After elephant ivory and rhinoceros horns, a new global trade is putting millions of animals at risk: donkey skin, used to produce a traditional Chinese medicine remedy called ejiao. This is not a legend or an ancient fairy tale, but a dramatic reality that is having devastating consequences in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Ejiao is a gelatinous substance obtained by boiling donkey skin in water and alcohol. Traditionally reserved for Chinese imperial elites, today it has become a luxury product promoted as a health tonic, a rejuvenating remedy, and a blood-strengthening supplement. However, the growth in demand has far exceeded the availability of donkeys in China, pushing the country to seek skins abroad.

A species under global pressure

In recent decades, the donkey population in China has collapsed: from 11 million in 1990 to around 5 million in 2016 To bridge the gap, the market has shifted toward developing countries, where donkeys represent a vital resource for millions of rural families.

According to several international investigations, in Kenya the donkey population has halved in just over ten years, with animal prices increasing by more than 300% in only six months. In Botswana, the number of donkeys has decreased by 60%, while in Lesotho, Colombia, and Brazil the decline has nonetheless been significant. A true silent massacre.

Abuse and illegal slaughter

Animal protection organizations such as PETA Asia and The Donkey Sanctuary have documented extremely violent conditions in farms and slaughter sites: donkeys beaten, transported for days without water or food, and killed with no respect for animal welfare standards.

In many African regions, the slaughter of donkeys takes place illegally and without sanitary controls, often in remote areas. This not only increases animal suffering, but also entails serious risks to public health and to the spread of diseases, exacerbated by unregulated cross-border trafficking.

Attempts to curb the trade

Some countries have begun to respond. Countries such as Botswana, Niger, and Burkina Faso have banned the slaughter and export of donkeys or denied permits for the trade in skins. Other governments and international organizations openly urge consumers not to purchase ejiao or products that contain it.

Despite this, ejiao is still easily available online and in traditional Chinese medicine shops, even in Europe, sold through e-commerce platforms. According to The Donkey Sanctuary, between 4 and 10 million donkeys could die every year to sustain an unsustainable demand that puts both animals and the livelihoods of entire communities at risk.

An ethical issue that concerns everyone

The issue of donkey skin reminds us how consumer choices can have global, often invisible consequences. It is the same principle that guides Lovingreen: offering exclusively products that respect the environment and the living beings that inhabit it. From clothing to skincare, from shoes to home furnishings, every choice can contribute to a fairer, more transparent, and more respectful system. Getting informed is the first step to not being complicit in a trade that destroys lives and communities.

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