Africa Bans Donkey Skin Trade

About two-thirds of the world's donkeys estimated 53 million donkeys live in Africa.  A donkey can mean the difference between a modest living and destitution for Africa's poorest.  Despite their utility to humans they are subjected to a cruel trade in the their skins. Once again the trade is there to supply China with an ingredient for traditional medicine. Eliao is an ancient medicine made from donkey skin, which is believed to have anti-aging properties.  When Chinese companies making the substance ran out of donkeys in China, they began to look elsewhere.  Africa was an obvious source.

Cash short African governments at first saw the trade as a source of revenue, and many legal slaughterhouses opened. In Kenya, hafe the nations donkeys were killed. However, due to the advocacy of protection groups, the African Union declared a ban on the trade at its summit in Ethiopia on Sunday. It declared the trade inhumane and unsustainable. An advocate told BBC that, "donkey slaughter for its skin has eroded livelihoods in Africa, robbing the continent of its culture, biodiversity and identity."

US Person can testify that African donkeys are very personable and friendly animals, willing to cooperate with humans. He was allowed to ride one in Thebes, Egypt. He still remembers the quickness of the little animal and its obvious strength as it transported him through the streets of the ancient city.  It is encouraging that officials finally recognized their true worth to African people. [photo credit: BBC]