Millions of donkeys are killed every year by African traders so their skins can be used as an ingredient in a traditional Chinese medicine called ejiao.
Here’s video produced by the World Veterinary Association with The Donkey Sanctuary, revealing the terrible suffering donkeys face as a result of the trade.
WARNING: You may find scenes in the video upsetting.
What the Donkey Sanctuary is doing about this:
- In January 2017, published the Under the Skin report, alerting the world to the illegal trade.
- Worked with in-country partners to pressure authorities to stop the slaughter of donkeys for the trade.
- Commissioned investigations and gathered case studies on the donkey skin trade’s heartbreaking consequences on individuals and communities who depend on donkeys to make a living.
- Addressed parliamentarians in Brazil, Ethiopia and Nigeria, supporting efforts to protect national donkey populations.
- Work with colleagues in organizations like the Brooke, World Horse Welfare and The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad.
- Use the courts to push for action where governments will not.
- Use science to prove our concerns about biosecurity and the skin trade.
- Use satellite technology to monitor the donkey trade.
- Investigate the emerging technology of cellular agriculture and growing collagen in a laboratory artificially to produce ejiao. Such technology would halt the donkey skin trade and stop the slaughter overnight.
The Donkey Sanctuary in the UK spends 75% of its donations on helping donkeys worldwide, 25% on costs and fund-raising.
To donate to the Donkey Sanctuary, go here.
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