A vile trade sees six million donkeys killed for their hides, which are boiled down to create an unproven ‘miracle cure’ claimed to help conditions from fertility to insomnia
Donkeys are being stolen and then slaughtered to be turned into wellness products sold in the UK and around the world, a probe has found.
More than six million are killed each year for their hides, which are boiled down to make ejiao – a gelatine-like substance consumed as bars, powders, or liquids – which claims to treat a myriad of health conditions.
A traditional Chinese medicine, the unproven “miracle cure” is claimed to prevent the effects of ageing, improve fertility and help against anaemia, insomnia, dizziness and even cancer. It is also used in some cosmetics.
Growing global demand has created a booming illegal donkey hide trade in Africa with charity Brooke warning the continent’s donkeys could be entirely wiped out if action is not taken.
Dr Raphael Kinoti, director of Brooke: Action for Working Horses and Donkeys in East Africa, said: “Everybody who buys these products in the UK and around the world are an accomplice to a trade that is depriving people of their livelihoods.
“You are becoming part of an illegal gang that is stealing donkeys in Africa, pushing tens of thousands of people into abject poverty. You’re depriving women of a critical animal that is helpful to their lives. You’re depriving young men in cities of livelihoods, you’re depriving a young kid of their education.”
Ejiao is sold by third-party sellers in the UK via Amazon and other online retailers. It can be made from skins of donkeys not stolen but which died naturally or were bred for slaughter.
Brooke purchased dozens of ejiao products in the UK on Amazon. Listings include £19 for 100g of ejiao snacks which claim to be “rich in nutrition and contain many vitamins”.
A 250g pack of ejiao powder was £19, while ejiao tea costs £16.58. The UK Food Standards Agency warns products containing ejiao – no matter what the source – should not be allowed into the UK and recommends strict import audits.
Because it is classified as an unregulated and unauthorized product, the FSA advises people not to buy it. Queen Camilla saw the work of Brooke first-hand when she visited a donkey sanctuary in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2023.
The charity says families in the country are being badly hit by the theft of donkeys. The animals are then bludgeoned with clubs before having their throats slit. Others are skinned alive.
The hides are then stripped and shipped to China – as China’s own donkey population has been all but decimated by the huge demand for ejiao.
Beth Wambui, 50, is a dairy farmer and mother of five from Nyandarua County, Kenya. Her donkey was her lifeline – carrying water, transporting feed and connecting her to farmland miles away. But last year it was stolen and found slaughtered for its skin close by.
Without her donkey, Beth’s income has disappeared. Alongside her community, she is calling for stronger local patrols to protect their animals.
She said: “When my donkey was stolen I felt helpless… like someone had cut off my hands. Right now, I am just struggling, my income is gone.”
The African Union made it illegal to kill donkeys for their skin in 2024 – but the theft and illegal slaughter has led to the deaths of millions.
Dr Kinoti said: “Cruelty like this cannot be ignored. We’re already fighting back against the donkey skin trade, but stopping it will take all of us. Please don’t buy these products.”
Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.
