Gelatin is a key ingredient for Chinese medicineAn animal welfare and rescue group has warned that donkeys are in a state of global crisis as the animals face population collapse across several countries. This is because dealers target their skin for sale. The Donkey Sanctuary said traders target the animals’ hides for export as an ingredient for making ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine. A recent report by the group focusing on donkey skin trade found that local donkey populations have dipped in several countries as increasing demand for ejiao has led to an untenable number of donkeys being slaughtered. Gelatin, found in donkey hides, is a key ingredient in ejiao and The Donkey Sanctuary is now calling for an urgent halt to the largely unregulated global trade before they are virtually wiped out in some areas.

Source: Daily Nation January 15, 2020 14:37 UTC