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Since 2016, South African donkeys have been trafficked. Their skin is sought after by the Chinese, who use it in their traditional medicine. Eventually, the donkeys of the African continent are threatened.
In South Africa, donkeys are trafficked. Met by France Télévisions, a resident, who uses it to get around, does not know what happened. This donkey traffic, destined for the Chinese market, has been affecting South Africa since 2016. “Whether the donkey is thin or fat, sick, whatever its condition, they don’t care. All they want is its skin”says Joseph Tsepo Msiza, animal caretaker at Highveld Horse Care Unit.
The skin of donkeys is indeed used to make a gelatinous substance famous in traditional Chinese medicine. The skin is prepared in cakes, cosmetics or medicines, which the Chinese love. To meet demand, the country would need nearly 5 million donkeys per year. Some farms remain, but the population is decimated. In South Africa, a specialized brigade is investigating this traffic. They recently stopped a truck carrying over 100 donkeys. “In most cases, what’s really hard is the way the animals were butchered and suffered.”reports Grace de Lange, an inspector at the farm animal protection unit.