- The ban comes after years of pressure, with organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urging African leaders to outlaw the killing of donkeys
On Sunday, the African Union imposed a ban on Nigeria and other African countries, prohibiting the exportation of donkey-skin to China.
This move, affecting all 55 member states, is seen as a response to persistent appeals from animal rights groups advocating for an end to the cruelty inflicted upon donkeys.
The ban comes after years of pressure, with organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urging African leaders to outlaw the killing of donkeys. Donkey skins are shipped to China, where they are boiled to produce gelatine, a crucial component of ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine.
Notably, the ban was announced during the AU Summit in Ethiopia on Sunday, reflecting a collective effort to address concerns about the exploitation of donkeys for commercial purposes.
A statement by the group’s vice president, Jason Baker, indicated that donkeys were sensitive beings that should not be subjected to cruel slaughter for the sheer purpose of cooking their skin to make medicine.
“Donkeys are sensitive, smart, social individuals who don’t want to be slaughtered and sliced up for gelatine,” asserted Mr Baker in a statement on Wednesday.
He commended the African Union leaders for imposing the ban and urged the Nigerian authorities to speedily enforce the decision.
It noted, “PETA applauds the work of animal protection groups and the African Union in this decision and urges the Nigerian government to proceed with the proposed plans to implement a nationwide ban on the slaughter of donkeys in order to ensure that this cruel trade doesn’t continue.”
An executive of The Donkey Sanctuary, Marianne Steele, praised the decision, saying, “Donkeys are sensitive and intelligent creatures who deserve protection for their own sakes and for the countless communities who rely on them.”