Millions of donkeys are being killed every year to make a traditional medicine called Ejiao.
This medicine, believed to have health benefits, is made from the gelatin found in donkey skin.
But this demand for Ejiao is causing problems for people who rely on donkeys, like Steve from Nairobi.
Steve used his donkeys to sell water and earn a living.
But one day, his donkeys were stolen and killed for their skins.
He was left without his means of work and transportation.
Donkey thefts like Steve’s are happening more often across Africa and other places where there are many donkeys.
These animals are becoming victims of a growing trade in donkey skin.
Ejiao, the medicine made from donkey skin, is popular in China.
It’s made by boiling down the skins to extract gelatin, which is then used in various forms.
But this demand is causing a huge number of donkeys to be slaughtered every year – at least 5.9 million according to some estimates.
It’s hard to know exactly how many donkeys are killed for this trade.
In Africa, where most of the world’s donkeys live, there are different rules in different countries.
Some places allow the export of donkey skins, while others don’t.
But there’s hope for change.
Governments in Africa and Brazil are considering banning the slaughter and export of donkeys to protect their populations.
In Kenya alone, about half of the donkey population has been slaughtered for their skins between 2016 and 2019.
Donkeys are vital for many poor communities.
They help carry people, goods, and water, and losing them to the skin trade is a big problem.
The demand for Ejiao has led to a decrease in donkey numbers in China.
As a result, companies have set up slaughterhouses in other countries to meet the demand.
But banning the trade might not be enough.
Some worry that it will just move to other places where regulations are more lax.
For people like Steve, donkeys are essential for their livelihoods.
Without them, life becomes much harder.
Organizations like the Donkey Sanctuary and Brooke are working to protect donkeys and provide support to those who depend on them.
Steve was given a new donkey named Joy Lucky by Brooke. He feels lucky to have her and is determined to protect her.
But until the demand for Ejiao decreases or alternative methods are found, the struggle to save donkeys continues.
