African Union calls for urgent action on donkey skin trade
Donkey skin is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The African Union's commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment has written to member states urging them to prioritise the recent ban on slaughtering donkeys for their skin.
Donkey skin is used to make an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine called ejiao. At least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered globally each year to supply demand, according to research by The Donkey Sanctuary. The moratorium on the donkey skin trade was passed by the African Union in February.
In Africa there are an estimated 33 million donkeys and many are used as working animals. Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal had already banned donkey exports to China before the African Union moratorium was introduced.
In her letter, Josefa L.C. Sacko emphasised that countries need to integrate the welfare of donkeys into their national plans, as well as allocate resources and instigate polices to mitigate adverse economic and environmental aspects of the trade.
The Donkey Sanctuary and its partners in the International Coalition for Working Equids have welcomed the letter.
Otieno Mtula, regional advocacy and campaigns manager (Africa) for The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “The urgency of this request from the African Union demonstrates its commitment to protecting one of Africa’s most precious resources, and represents an important milestone in our campaign to end the skin trade.
“This is not just about a moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys, but a move toward a future where their contribution is valued and their welfare is sacrosanct.
“As demand for their skins continues to threaten Africa’s donkeys, food security and livelihoods, this is a call to arms to member states to prioritise and allocate resources so collectively they can bring an end this cruel and unsustainable trade and protect these hardworking, sentient animals.”
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