Donkey Skin Trade and Its Non-compliance With Legislative Framework

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Welfare
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• The global donkey population faces a welfare and survival crisis.
• Increased demand for donkey skins is driven by the production of ejiao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• The global donkey skin trade is an extractive industry, particularly outside China, leading to population decimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of the global donkey skin trade on animal welfare and survival.
• To investigate the sustainability of the ejiao production supply chain.
• To assess the ethical, biosecurity, and human health risks associated with the donkey skin trade.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on the donkey skin trade and ejiao production.
• Analysis of global trade data and its impact on donkey populations.
• Ethical and biosecurity risk assessment of the supply chain.

Main Results:

• The donkey skin trade is decimating local populations due to unsustainable demand for ejiao.
• The trade presents significant ethical concerns regarding animal welfare.
• Biosecurity and human health risks are associated with the global donkey skin trade.

Conclusions:

• The global donkey skin trade for ejiao is unsustainable and poses multifaceted risks.
• Urgent interventions are needed to address the welfare crisis and trade-related risks.
• The trade violates national and international legal frameworks and ethical expectations.