Africa's Donkey Population Risks Collapse Due to Surging Chinese Demand for Hides

The China Africa Project

Persistent Chinese demand for donkey hides is now pushing the animal's population in many countries, including a number in Africa, to the brink of collapse according to a new report by the Donkey Sanctuary. The skins are used to make gelatin that used in a Chinese medicine known as ejiao. But given the popularity of ejiao and the enormous demand in a market as large as China's, there simply aren't enough donkeys available to supply the ejiao's production requirements. With the market unable to legitimately supply the 4.8 million hides needed annually to make ejiao, poachers have stepped in to steal donkeys and kill them for their skins. And in most cases, those poachers are taking donkeys from vulnerable subsistence farmers who depend on these animals for their survival. The bottom line is that this a serious crisis that is worsening, in Africa and throughout the developing world. Alex Mayers is the former Head of Programmes at the Donkey Sanctuary and one of the co-authors of the organization's latest "Under the Skin" report. He joins Eric & Cobus to discuss the report's findings and why this problem is proving to be so intractable. NOTE: this interview with Alex was recorded just prior to his departure from the Donkey Sanctuary. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject Twitter: @eolander | @stadenesque | @DonkeySanctuary SUPPORT THIS PODCAST. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TO THE CHINA AFRICA PROJECT. Your subscription supports independent journalism. Subscribers get the following: A daily email newsletter of the top China-Africa news. Access to the China-Africa Experts Network Unlimited access to the CAP's exclusive analysis content on chinaafricaproject.com Subscribe today and get one month free with the promo code PODCAST: www.chinaafricaproject.com/subscribe