“Ejiao”, known as a “miracle elixir” in China, is a product made out of boiling and extracting donkey skin.
It is considered a popular medicine and cure for many illnesses including low-immunity, anaemia, respiratory ailments and impotence.
The word ejiao comes from the word E-jiao, ‘jiao’ means glue or gum in Mandarin.
Apart from being used as medicine, ejiao is being consumed in the form of edibles such as candies, bars as well as a complimentary ingredient with other products such as honey.
Ejiao and the donkey demand
The rapidly increasing consumption of ejiao in the last few decades in China along with the demand of donkey meat, common in central Chinese cuisine has also increased the demand for donkeys.
However, the supply of donkeys in China has not been able to keep pace. In the 1990s, it is believed that there were more than eleven million donkeys in the country which is now less than five million.
This demand-supply gap is being met through import of donkeys (hides / meat) from around the world especially countries in Africa.
Kenya's first donkey slaughterhouse opened in 2016, primarily to export donkey meat to China and other Asian countries.
The following video contains graphic material.
Pakistan to export ‘live’ donkeys
The business to farm and export donkeys is currently being considered in Pakistan which has one of the largest populations of donkeys in the world.
More than 80,000 donkeys are to be exported in the next few years, according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s new plans titled "KP-China Sustainable Donkey Development Program”.
The project hopes to earn millions of dollars to for Pakistan and boost the trade.
It is believed that few Chinese companies are interested in investing in the donkey farms which are likely to be set up in the cities of Dera Ismail Khan and Mansehra.
Donkey farming in Australia
Pakistani donkey-cart racers enjoying local race in Karachi, Pakistan.EPA/AKHTAR SOOMRO Source: EPA
The business is currently being promoted and campaigned against in Australia.
One of the states in Australia is currently promoting 'donkey farming'.
The National Territory government (NTG) in its ‘donkey business’ states that the state government supports the development of a profitable donkey industry.
“Donkey farming is potentially viable as a stand-alone business or as a complimentary venture operated in conjunction with cattle production. However the development of a commercial business case will require rigorous assessment based on the particular circumstances of the enterprise.”
“There is a strong demand for export meat and gelatine and it can command a high price in the Chinese market at present,” one of the opportunities the report mentions.
The diagram below (from NTG report) shows the potential products that can be produced via donkey farming.
Donkey farming export model (Digram via NTG's website) Source: Northern Territory Government website
Animal rights' activists oppose donkey trade
The Human Society International (HIS) in Australia which promotes animal welfare has called on the Australian government to cease the trade threatening the survival of donkeys.
In its report last year, HIS stated that Australia is the 8th largest importer of ejiao.
“The staggering growth rate in demand for ejiao is simply not sustainable and will have dire animal welfare and humanitarian consequences.” Georgie Dolphin, Humane Society International’s Program Manager for Animal Welfare said.
“Even Australia is looking to cash in. The Northern Territory government is currently researching the viability of donkey farming with the view to exporting skins to China. This would make Australia the first developed country to fuel this appalling trade.”
