Why donkey skins are fetching $400 each in a booming illegal trade across Africa
Dubai: Donkeys across Africa are facing growing threats from criminal networks that smuggle them across borders, slaughter them in illegal abattoirs and export their skins, which can fetch around $400 each. The trade is driven by demand for gelatine extracted from donkey skins, used in medicinal and traditional products popular in some Asian markets, where they are believed to help preserve youth…
Illegal trade in donkey skins is booming across Africa, with criminal networks slaughtering the animals and exporting their skins for a lucrative profit. The skins fetch around $400 each, driven by demand for gelatine derived from them in Asian markets. Animal welfare groups warn that the trade threatens donkey populations and could deprive millions of rural families of a vital source of transport, work, and income.
An estimated six million donkeys are slaughtered annually out of a global population of around 50 million, with 70% residing in Africa. Donkey owners are often targeted by specialized networks, who offer high prices or resort to stealing the animals. The donkeys are then transported to remote locations for slaughter, with their skins collected for sale.
Essential for tasks such as transporting water, food, medicine, and agricultural products, donkeys play a crucial role in reducing poverty and providing income for millions. The trade's impact goes beyond the loss of an animal, as it can deprive families of an essential source of production and livelihood, increasing economic and social pressures.
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