China’s demand for a traditional medicine known as e-jiao is fueling the slaughter of millions of donkeys every year, say animal welfare groups and

How China’s demand for donkey hide is devastating African communities

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2024-04-23 17:00:04

China’s demand for a traditional medicine known as e-jiao is fueling the slaughter of millions of donkeys every year, say animal welfare groups and veterinary experts.

E-jiao, which is made using collagen extracted from donkey hides, is the vital ingredient in food and beauty products believed by many Chinese consumers to enrich the blood, improve the immune system, and prevent diseases.

Reuters spoke to more than a dozen experts, including veterinarians and academics, to examine how demand for e-jiao is rippling across communities in Africa, which rely heavily on the donkey, and how the trade in hide continues to boom despite efforts by some African nations to restrict it.

An illustration showing the products derived from e-jiao, portions of gelatin; Walnut e-jiao cake with kernels; e-jiao powder; e-jiao bottled in small glass vials; e-jiao pills in a jar; finally, e-jiao paste shown in a jar and with a spoon to add it to a glass with water or other drinks.

Traditionally, e-jiao was a luxury product. It gained favor among elites during the Qing dynasty that ruled China from 1644 until 1912. Its popularity has surged in recent years due partly to its use in the Chinese television series ‘Empress in the Palace’, which started airing in 2011. The rise in demand has also been fuelled by China’s growing middle class and rising elderly population.