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Nearly six million donkeys are killed annually worldwide, primarily to meet Chinese demand for Ejiao
 
About

• Ejiao (pronounced eh-gee-yow) is a traditional Chinese medicine made from gelatin derived by boiling donkey hides.
• It has been used for over 2,000 years in China, primarily for nourishing blood and tonifying the body, especially in women.
• The main components of ejiao are collagen and amino acids. It is believed to treat conditions like anemia, dizziness, insomnia, dry cough, and reproductive problems.
• Ejiao is also used in some food products and cosmetics, thought to have blood tonic, anti-aging, and libido-boosting properties.

Global demand for Ejiao and consequences on donkey populations worldwide:

• Scale of Demand: The Ejiao industry requires around 5.9 million donkey skins annually as of 2025, and this figure is projected to reach at least 6.8 million by 2027 to meet global consumer demand, primarily centered in China.
• Market Size: Ejiao production has become a $6.8-billion industry, fueling a massive global trade in donkey hides, often involving illegal and unregulated networks.
• Source Shift: As China’s domestic donkey population plunged from 11 million in 1992 to just 1.5 million by 2023, the country has increasingly turned to Africa, South America, and Asia as sources for donkey skins.
• Impact on Donkey Populations:

• In Africa, donkey numbers may be halved over the next 15 years if the current pace of slaughter continues. Africa’s donkey population could decline from about 27 million down to just 14 million by 2040 unless bans on the trade are strictly enforced.
• Villagers in Africa, South America, and Asia have reported widespread theft and poaching of donkeys for the Ejiao trade. Many families suffer lost livelihoods, as donkeys are essential for agriculture and transport.
• The loss of donkeys has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, particularly women and children who rely on them for daily subsistence tasks.

• Economic and Welfare Fallout: The price of donkeys has surged—sometimes fivefold—putting them out of reach for poor families. Criminal networks exploit communities, and the trade’s illegality contributes to inhumane slaughter and public health risks, including the spread of infectious diseases.
• Policy Response: In 2024, the African Union issued a 15-year moratorium on donkey slaughter, aiming to protect remaining populations, though enforcement challenges remain.

In summary, the booming demand for Ejiao is driving a global crisis for donkeys, decimating population numbers, and harming the lives of people who depend on them worldwide.

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