Arusha: More than 150 donkeys are stolen from Tanzania and smuggled into Kenya every month, highlighting a growing crisis in Arusha.
According to Nam News Network, the Director of the Arusha Society for the Protection of Animals (ASPA), Livingstone Masija, reported that these donkeys are transported through numerous permeable routes along the northern borderline stretching from Loliondo in Arusha to Tanga.
ASPA, in collaboration with Brooke East Africa, focuses on advocating for the welfare of donkeys, particularly in addressing issues related to their smuggling and trafficking. The primary driver behind the disappearance of these animals is the demand for their hides, which are used to produce gelatin for traditional Chinese medicine.
Donkeys, typically resilient and essential working animals, are now at risk of extinction in Tanzania. They face mistreatment, overworking, and illegal trafficking, primarily driven by the demand in the Chinese drug industry. Tanzania's donkey population, once around 600,000, is rapidly declining, with experts predicting potential extinction within a decade.
The donkey hides business in Tanzania began in 2014 with the establishment of special 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 after the animals are slaughtered for their hides. These hides are the key components used to manufacture a traditional Chinese medicine known as e jiao, a product in high demand in China and other Asian markets.
Due to the near impossibility of legally acquiring the necessary number of donkeys, illegal capture, theft, and smuggling to China have become prevalent. The Donkey Sanctuary's 2020 report states that nearly 5 million donkey hides are required to meet the demand for gelatin.
Abdinego Martin, ASPA's communications officer, emphasizes the vital role donkeys play in the rural economy. He warns of severe consequences if these animals become extinct and urges the media to raise awareness of the donkeys' predicament in Tanzania.
Experts note that since 2010, global donkey prices have surged due to the high demand for Chinese traditional elixir, Ejiao. Consequently, 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 have been indispensable for farming, transporting goods, and carrying water. Predominantly found in the Northern and Central Regions, they are often subjected to poor treatment, including inadequate feeding, overburdening, and neglect when injured or sick.