Farmers and residents of rural areas in many African countries have been shocked by recent price increases of more than 300 percent for donkeys, which are mainly used in agriculture, transportation, and other daily activities.
Demand from China and local agents to buy donkeys at high prices in many rural and agricultural areas of African countries has driven up prices, leading to severe shortages.
Giant Chinese companies operating in the field of alternative medicine have recently turned to African markets, where there is a huge demand for donkey skins, from which ingredients and compounds are extracted that go into the production of rare and expensive drugs and medicines.
Workers in the field of alternative medicine believe that these drugs can treat many diseases, but so far no specific scientific studies have been issued to prove the validity of these hypotheses.
And giant companies working in the field of alternative medicine benefit from African donkey skins to extract a mysterious element believed to have effective health benefits in treating many common ailments.
Collagen extracted from donkey hides is used in combination with herbs and other ingredients to produce medical and health consumer products that strengthen the blood, stop bleeding, improve the quality of vital fluids, help treat insomnia, and strengthen the physical structure. Eliminate the sagging that occurs in human skin with age.
Studies conducted on mice have shown that donkey collagen helps reduce inflammation and prevent the formation of oxygen free radicals, but these results have not yet been found in humans.
A kilo of the material extracted from donkey skins sells for more than $780 in the Chinese market, which is equivalent to the price of four live donkeys in African countries.
In the context of the legalisation of alternative medicine in China in recent years and the entry of some drugs produced from collagen extracted from donkey skins into the list of drugs allowed to be covered by health insurance, their market size increased to eight billion dollars a year.
Africa is the largest home for donkeys, with two-thirds of donkeys living in all the world’s countries. The estimated population is about 153 million donkeys.
Regardless of the validity or falsity of the allegations that talk about the benefits of collagen found in donkey skins on human health, China’s growing demand for donkeys has led to great reactions in many countries in Africa.
Great public pressure caused by the high cost of donkeys in rural areas has forced countries such as Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Tanzania to ban donkeys altogether.
In February 2020, Kenya banned donkey exports after a sharp rise in their prices sparked widespread public anger in rural areas. However, the exporters were able to overturn the decision by appealing to the Supreme Court.
According to a study conducted by the British Organization for the Protection of Donkeys, Chinese polling has led to a more than 50 percent decline in donkey numbers in African countries. The firm estimates China’s annual demand for donkey hides to be 4.8 million.
According to David Didabo, a veterinarian who works with donkeys in rural Botswana, the number of donkeys in the three southern African countries has fallen from about 800,000 10 years ago to less than 350,000 today.
A recent survey by the East African Community found that the region was badly affected by the Chinese appetite for donkeys in the region.
It is estimated that donkeys support about 158 million people in Africa. In rural areas, donkeys are one of the simplest, most sustainable, and affordable means of transporting people, goods, and agricultural produce, as well as providing drinking water and transport to schools and offices.
China’s nefarious medicine mafia
During the corona, the main discussion was about Chinese food habits. At one point, the argument that Corona has exploded due to those habits also made the rounds. However, there have always been accusations against that country of slaughtering mute creatures for the preparation of Chinese traditional medicines. Donkeys have recently been taken and killed while crossing borders in Africa.China’s evil activities in making traditional medicines have come to light.
It is noteworthy that this matter came to light because of the Chinese TV show called Impressions in the Palace. Not tens, not hundreds. China is sacrificing millions of donkeys in the name of traditional medicine. Mute animals are being picked up and beaten with hammers and treated very inhumanely. Simon Pope, who works at the UK-based Donkey Sanctuary, is accused of committing atrocities for the traditional medicine Ejiao, which is made from the skin of donkeys.
Ejiao is known as “donkey glue” in China. It is made from donkey skin. The Chinese believe that this tonic will keep them healthy and beautiful. That is why donkeys are being killed viciously. Another thing here is that China does not have enough donkeys to make this tonic. That’s why it focused on foreign countries. Primarily based on the number of donkeys in Africa
To this extent, Voice of America has published an article claiming that China has opened the door to illegal raids in Mali, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Donkeys are the main source of livelihood for the people there. don’t want to sell them. At this moment, the Chinese mafia started to take them away. Two million of the five million donkeys are brought from home, with the remaining three million coming from abroad.However, according to the Voice of America article, 25 to 35 percent of those three million were lifted by donkeys.
Countries are now focusing on the declining number of donkeys in their respective countries. Last month, Tanzania banned the slaughter of donkeys and trade in their skins, as donkeys are on the verge of extinction in their country. Nigeria also followed the same path and announced a ban. Some countries have already sent strong signals to the dragon country that they can sell and kill their donkeys, the wealth of their countries.
