The world’s second largest economy, China seems to can’t get enough of donkeys, as a number of African countries have banned selling their donkeys to the Asian country, saying demand for the animal is simply unsustainable for them.
Donkeys have become a precious commodity in China, after the country’s increased demand for imported donkey skins, as opposite to a dramatic drop in China’s own donkey population thanks to the country rapid industrialization.
As per CNN, the number of donkeys in China has fallen from 11 million to six million since the 1990s.
The donkey skins are used as main ingredient to produce gelatin, a key ingredient used in making ‘ejiao’ – the traditional medicine said to be a cure for a lot of things i.e. insomnia, irregular menstruation and dizziness. The medicine is also believed to help in improving blood circulation, reported The Independent.
Around 80,000 donkeys have been exported from Niger, a landlocked African country, this year compared to 27,000 last year, reported BBC. “If the export continues the animals will be decimated,” said Atte Issa, a Niger government official.
The increased demand has also pushed up the average price of donkeys, with many livestock sellers are now opting to breed donkeys to make a handsome return.
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