Exposed Again: Donkeys Abused and Slaughtered for Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Updated: October 15, 2020

Earlier this year, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for agriculture announced a ban on all donkey slaughterhouses in the country, but it has now been rescinded. Donkeys need your help more than ever. Please take action below and demand that Kenya shut down its donkey slaughterhouses.

In 2017, a PETA Asia investigation revealed that donkeys in China—some as young as 5 months old—are bashed in the head with a sledgehammer and their throats are slit so their skin can be boiled down to make gelatin for a traditional Chinese medicine called ejiao. A breaking PETA Asia investigation has found horrific abuse inside Kenya’s donkey slaughter industry, which exists only to meet the demand for this product in China.

The footage shows workers at government-sanctioned slaughterhouses mercilessly beating frightened donkeys.

Donkeys Face Harrowing Journeys, Denied Food and Water

Kenya has opened three donkey slaughterhouses in the last three years. The donkeys are transported by truck from neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda that have already enacted policies to stop this cruel practice. The grueling trip can take several days, during which the donkeys are deprived of both food and water.

Donkeys Are Injured and Some Die During Transport

Eyewitnesses found dead donkeys who had not survived the torturous journey dumped outside a slaughterhouse. One donkey on a truck appeared to be injured and was unable to stand up. Workers dragged her out, left her at the front gate of the same facility, and kicked her. Eyewitnesses didn’t see her receive any pain relief or treatment—she was simply left to suffer from her injuries.

Other Countries Have Already Banned This Cruel Practice

Many African countries including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda—have banned the export of donkey skin or have closed down Chinese-owned slaughterhouses. Yet, despite a warning from China’s official National Health and Family Planning Commission that ejiao is really just “boiled donkey skin,” donkey slaughterhouses continue to operate in countries like Kenya in order to meet China’s demand for the product.

There are virtually no regulations against the abuse of animals on farms or in slaughterhouses in Kenya, so none of the violence captured in the footage is punishable by law.

PETA and its affiliates have been pressuring officials, companies, and consumers around the world to stop supporting this cruel industry. There are numerous alternatives to ejiao, including modern medications and herbal medicines, that are more effective and don’t require that any animals be killed.

What You Can Do

Medicine made from animal parts doesn’t belong in this century. As consumers, we can reject cruelty to animals and save donkeys’ lives simply by choosing vegan alternatives, never buying ejiao products, and refusing to shop at stores that sell them. For the sake of suffering donkeys, please read ingredient lists and steer clear of medicines, beauty products, candy, and beverages containing ejiao.

Please ask Kenya’s cabinet secretary for agriculture to ban all donkey slaughterhouses in the country and to stop supporting China’s cruel ejiao trade.

Kenya's Ban on Killing Donkeys for Ejiao Has Been Rescinded—Take Action!

Help Donkeys!

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I was shocked and horrified to learn that the ban you had placed on donkey slaughterhouses has now been lifted. I urge you to reinstate it immediately. PETA's video exposé shows frightened donkeys being cruelly beaten by workers at government-sanctioned slaughterhouses in Kenya, just to meet China's demand for ejiao. I'm sure you'll agree that the abuse captured on video is absolutely appalling and that immediate action must be taken to stop it.

The animals are transported for slaughter in Kenya via trucks from neighboring countries that have already enacted policies prohibiting this cruel practice. These torturous journeys can take several days, and some donkeys die en route. Those who are injured on the way receive no pain relief or treatment and are left to suffer.

Other African countries—including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda—have banned the export of donkey skin or have closed down Chinese-owned slaughterhouses. Will Kenya show compassion to donkeys and permanently close down its slaughter facilities?

I hope you will work to end cruelty to animals by taking immediate action to ban all donkey slaughterhouses in the country and stop supporting China's cruel ejiao trade.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

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