The Donkey Sanctuary to co-host forum with Ethiopian government

The event will address the emerging idea of donkey farming and trade for their skins and meat in Ethiopia while safeguarding its working donkey herd in the interests of the many people who depend on them.  

The pioneering forum, titled ‘Protecting Ethiopia’s National Donkey Herd: the socio-economic opportunities and challenges presented by humane and sustainable farming of donkeys for the emerging global trade’, will bring together key stakeholders from the donkey farming and slaughter industry as well as experts on donkey management, the development sector, tourism and culture and representatives from donkey-dependent sectors of civil society. 

The forum will enable stakeholders to understand and identify the opportunities and challenges that the donkey skin and meat trade presents. It will facilitate a full and thorough analysis of the political, economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts on Ethiopia’s economy.

Ethiopia is currently re-evaluating its policy on the donkey skin trade after revoking licences for a number of donkey slaughterhouses last year due to public outcry. Proposed options being considered by the government now include farming donkeys to meet the demand for skins from China, granting licences for the export of donkeys to be slaughtered outside the country or even re-opening slaughterhouses inside Ethiopia. 

Globally, donkey populations are under threat from the escalating pressure for their skins, which are used to produce ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made with gelatin found in their hides.

Simon Pope, campaigns manager at The Donkey Sanctuary says: “We want to see the donkey skin trade halted until such time as it is shown to be humane and sustainable. This applies to every country currently engaged in the trade. Here in Ethiopia we’ve been assured by the government that trade will not impact on Ethiopia’s national donkey herd and that supply will only come from donkeys bred and farmed within the country for that sole purpose.

“As the global experts in donkey welfare we always seek to share our expertise and knowledge about the complexities and challenges of farming donkeys as we have done regarding the donkey dairy industry.

“This does not mean that we condone or promote or support donkey farming – simply that when the opportunity arises to inform a debate or discussion, then we will actively engage.” 

Ethiopia is home to an estimated 8.5 million donkeys, thought to be the largest number in any one country. Current research from the University of Bristol in the UK shows that owning a donkey in Ethiopia can mean the difference between poverty and survival for some of the poorest communities in the country.

Bio-security threats to people and livestock (including donkeys) and the resulting risk of disease are also heightened by the currently unregulated global trade. These are all key concerns for the government and NGOs working to protect donkeys and the communities who depend on them for their livelihood.

The forum on Thursday 29 November will be opened by Mike Baker, CEO, The Donkey Sanctuary and the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources, Mr Umer Hussein. 

Other guest speakers include Dr Becky Whay, University of Bristol; Dr Fitsum Lemma, independent research consultant; Dr Faith Burden, The Donkey Sanctuary; Dr Getachew Mulugeta, independent consultant; and Prof. Alemayehu Lemma, Addis Ababa University.