Africa supplies millions of donkey hides annually to China’s ejiao market
A recent study highlights how China's growing market for ejiao, a traditional medicine made from donkey hides, has driven large-scale donkey hide imports from Africa. Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania are major suppliers, raising concerns about the sustainability and impact on African donkey populations.
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China’s rapidly expanding demand for donkey hides to produce the traditional medicine ejiao has led to millions of hides being imported annually from Africa, according to research by economist Lauren Johnston.
Ejiao, a gelatin-based tonic made from donkey hides, has been used in Chinese medicine for millennia, traditionally to treat fatigue and support female wellness. Over the past 15 years, its production has industrialized and commercialized, with products ranging from medicinal tonics to cosmetics.
As domestic donkey hide supplies in China became insufficient around 2010, Africa—with the world’s largest donkey population—became a key source. Countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania have been targeted due to their large donkey populations and geographic proximity.
The growing demand has led to both legal and illicit trade in donkey hides, raising concerns about animal welfare and the sustainability of donkey populations in Africa.