Arusha: More than 150 donkeys are stolen from Tanzania and smuggled into Kenya every month, as revealed recently in Arusha.
According to Nam News Network, the Director of the Arusha Society for the Protection of Animals (ASPA), Livingstone Masija, highlighted that these donkeys are smuggled through various permeable routes along the northern border, ranging from Loliondo in Arusha to Tanga.
ASPA, in collaboration with Brooke East Africa, is actively working to advocate for donkey welfare, specifically focusing on issues of smuggling and trafficking. Masija has warned that the significant driver behind the disappearance of these donkeys is the demand for their hides, which are used to produce gelatin for traditional Chinese medicine.
The current situation poses a severe threat to the donkey population in Tanzania, where these resilient animals are at risk of extinction. Historically, Tanzania boasted around 600,000 donkeys, a number that has been shrinking at an alarming rate. Observers predict potential extinction within the next decade if the current trend continues.
The donkey hide trade began in Tanzania in 2014, following the establishment of specialized abattoirs in the Dodoma and Shinyanga Regions. Although donkey meat is not commonly consumed in Tanzania, it is sometimes mixed with beef to increase volume. The hides, however, are highly valued for their use in producing "e jiao," a traditional Chinese elixir made from donkey skin, which has seen rising demand in China and other parts of Asia.
The Donkey Sanctuary's 2020 report indicated that nearly 5 million donkey hides are required to meet the gelatin demand. The illicit trade involves capturing, stealing, and smuggling donkeys to the Far East, often preferring them dead for easier shipment to China.
Abdinego Martin, ASPA's communications officer, emphasized the crucial role of donkeys in rural economies and warned of potential severe consequences if these animals become extinct. Martin called on the media to raise awareness about the plight of the donkey population in Tanzania.
Experts have noted that since 2010, global donkey prices have surged due to the rising demand for the Chinese elixir, Ejiao. In response, several African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal, banned the export of donkeys and their products to China in 2018.
In Tanzania, donkeys serve as essential labor animals, used for farming, transporting goods, fetching water, and even carrying people. Predominantly found in the Northern and Central Regions, donkeys are often mistreated, suffering from poor feeding, overburdening, and inadequate medical care when injured or sick.