Network For Animals Logo
Network For Animals Logo
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Donate now
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

NFA calls for worldwide ban on donkey skin trade

  • May 23, 2019
  • News
  • South Africa

British animal welfare organisation, Network for Animals (NFA), has called for an immediate world-wide ban on the export of donkey skins to China, saying that donkeys could be wiped out in four years if the trade is not stopped.

David Barritt, NFA’s chief campaigner, said that research has shown that Chinese demand is for 10 million donkey skins every year to use in making Ejiao, a skin cream that has no proven worth. “There are only 44 million donkeys in the world. Chinese demand could see them wiped out in four years.”

Barritt said that NFA has discovered a massive trade in donkey skins, focused on Africa, that is causing devastation to donkeys and disruption to lives of rural African people. “The donkey skin trade is very cruel,” he said. “In South Africa donkeys are led into makeshift, illegal slaughterhouses in the bush, where they are clubbed unconscious and skinned. Very often the donkeys are flayed alive.”

Barritt said in Kenya the trade has been legalised. “Poor people are encouraged to sell their donkeys and there is a thriving smuggling trade from neighbouring Ethiopia. When donkeys are wiped out in one area, the traders move on to another.”

He said that the trade is having a devastating effect on the lives of rural people. “Donkeys are used as transport to take children to school and to fetch water and firewood. Without donkeys, the children often can’t get to school. Instead, they are used as child labour to fetch water and wood,” he said.

According to research NFA has conducted, African governments have not yet realised the devastating effect of the trade and are doing nothing to stop it. “The scale of the slaughter amounts to donkey genocide, and the only way to stop it is for the trade to be banned before it is too late,” said Barritt.

See a report on the donkey skin trade on the news show FYI: For Your Info on Sky News on Saturday, 25 May at 10:30am, 4:30pm; Sunday, 26 May at 10:30am.

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

It’s A Furrytail: Sammi The Dog Is Living The Life!

We are happy to share the heart-warming story of Sammi the dog’s rescue. From living in a makeshift doghouse in the freezing cold to tail

9 April 2021
Duke has found his forever home!

Great news from South Africa: Duke has found his forever home!

The things we see are often heartbreaking, but the victories along the way make it all worth it. We are delighted to share that Duke,

2 April 2021
Your donations in action in march

Your Donations In ACTION in March 2021

It’s been a busy month of lifesaving love, hardworking advocacy and tireless rescue here at Network for Animals. And none of it could have happened

31 March 2021
alfie the donkey is making a remarkable recovery

Great News From Israel: Alfie The Donkey Is Making A Remarkable Recovery

We have great news from Israel! Alfie, the pregnant donkey who lost her leg to a bear trap, is making a remarkable recovery. Thanks to

26 March 2021

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organisation crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Privacy policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Elephants Hunting with Hounds Organized Horse Fighting Seal Hunt Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Stay up to date with our campaigns

Contact us

+1 727 599 8148
+44 (0)20 8471 7666
info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Linkedin

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

I agree