Donkeys Safe Under African Union Ruling

African leaders have approved the decision to ban the brutal and controversial donkey skin trade in 55 countries.

The state leaders came to an accord during the conclusion of the African Union summit held in Ethiopia on Sunday, 18 February.

At the moment, there are an estimated 53 million donkeys in the world, two-thirds of which are found in Africa. Alas, the animals are far from safe on the continent: according to reports, donkeys are frequently killed for their skins to create an ancient Chinese medicine called “Ejiao”.

Some people believe Ejiao has anti-ageing and health benefits; however, the theory has remained unproven.

Chief Executive of The Donkey Sanctuary, Marianne Steele, saluted the decision via a statement on the organisation’s website on the same day:

“This is a truly momentous result for the welfare of donkeys in Africa. The decision to ban the slaughter of donkeys for the skin trade is enormous.

“This agreement from leaders of the African Union strikes at the heart of the brutal skin trade. It’s our hope that this decision will act as a catalyst for the rest of the world to act now, to not just save our donkey populations, but to actively recognise their value and protect them properly,” she added.

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