China’s demand for donkeys puts species at risk of extinction
Associated with the Brazilian hinterland, donkeys (Equus asinus) have a long history of interaction with humans. Domesticated around 7,000 years ago, they have since been used to support human labor. In Christian tradition, the donkey is even said to have carried Jesus Christ during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, one week before his crucifixion.
Human interaction with this equine species—a relative of the horse—has driven its population into the millions, with animals spread across many countries, including Brazil.
The Chinese practice of consuming ejiao, a medicinal gelatin made from donkey skin, poses a growing threat to the species’ survival due to increasing demand.
Experts gathered in the Brazilian state of Alagoas to discuss strategies for preserving the species. One of the key warnings from the 3rd Brazilian Donkey Workshop was the high risk of extinction facing donkeys in the country in the coming years.
Risk of extinction
According to the National Front for the Defense of Donkeys, Brazil lost 94 percent of its population of asinines—donkeys, mules, and hinnies—between 1996 and 2025.
This concern is not new. A 2021 study published in the Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science (University of São Paulo – USP) warned that Brazil lacks donkey breeding farms and that, if slaughter continues at the current rate, the species could disappear locally.
In 2024, a report by The Donkey Sanctuary—an international organization dedicated to protecting these animals—revealed that demand for donkey skin grew by 160 percent between 2016 and 2021. In 2021 alone, 5.6 million donkeys had to be slaughtered to meet the demand for ejiao.
Demand is expected to continue rising, with an estimated 6.8 million donkeys projected to be slaughtered by 2027. According to The Donkey Sanctuary, this trade threatens not only Brazil’s donkey population, but herds worldwide.
“The situation in Brazil and worldwide regarding donkeys is frightening,” summarized Adroaldo Zanella, professor in the Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health at USP, during the event. “It is an issue that raises concern globally,” he added.
Damage to animal health
A study published in March this year by Brazilian researchers in the journal Animals found that slaughter to meet Chinese demand not only threatens the survival of donkeys in Brazil but also harms their welfare.
The study concluded that Brazil lacks a formal donkey production chain and that breeding and slaughtering practices are often marked by animal abuse. Another survey of more than 100 donkeys revealed signs of neglect, malnutrition, and mistreatment.
The Donkey Sanctuary warns that handling and slaughter are generally carried out without regulation or with little concern for animal welfare.
“Every time animals are transported within and across national borders, there is a risk they will carry and spread diseases harmful to both humans (zoonoses) and animals,” according to a report by The Donkey Sanctuary.
Social impact
Experts warn that the extinction of the species will have social impacts, particularly for farming families who rely on donkeys for their crops.
“[Donkeys] work in hard-to-reach places, such as cocoa plantations on small farms. Beyond their economic role, they have other valuable uses. They are also excellent companion animals because, despite their size, they are very docile and intelligent,” says veterinarian Patrícia Tatemoto, who coordinates The Donkey Sanctuary’s campaign in Brazil.
She adds that donkeys have a 12-month gestation period and require approximately three years to reach slaughter weight, increasing the costs of farm rearing.
Medicinal use
One alternative to medicinal collagen derived from donkey skin is laboratory production using cell cultures. However, this technology is currently limited to large companies.
“Studies already highlight promising technological alternatives, such as precision fermentation, which can produce collagen in the laboratory without exploiting animals. Investing in these innovations is essential to protect the species and promote more sustainable practices, including from a socioeconomic perspective,” said Roberto Arruda, agronomist and PhD in Applied Economics from USP, in a statement.
Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania have adopted restrictive measures on donkey slaughter. In Brazil, two bills are pending to ban the killing of donkeys for the meat trade: one in the House of Representatives and another in the Legislative Assembly of Bahia state.
