Pakistan's Donkey Crisis Amid China's Ejiao Demand
The surge in demand for donkey skins has led to a crisis for Pakistani laborers, with donkey prices increasing fivefold and making it difficult for them to make a living. The donkey trade has raised concerns about animal welfare, public health, and the environment, and experts argue that lab-grown alternatives to ejiao could be a more sustainable solution.
Pakistan's donkey population is facing a significant decline due to a surge in demand from China for the traditional remedy ejiao, made from donkey skins, with prices increasing fivefold and affecting laborers who depend on donkeys for their livelihood.
The donkey trade has been formalized through new agreements between Pakistan and China, but critics argue that these deals are a form of quiet extraction of national resources under the guise of health. Chinese investors are now eyeing direct control of the donkey trade, with plans to build industrial-scale farms in Pakistan, which could lead to new ethical dilemmas and protests. The ejiao industry has grown significantly in recent years, with China's production increasing by 160% between 2013 and 2018, leading to a surge in prices and making it difficult for donkey cart owners to make a living.
The donkey skin trade has raised concerns about animal welfare, public health, and the environment. Animal welfare groups have criticized the government's decision to export donkey hides, arguing that it will lead to the slaughter of millions of donkeys. Experts argue that there is no sustainable mechanism for donkey production in Pakistan, and the country would need an enormous breeding herd and other infrastructural protocols to fuel donkey hide demand. They suggest that lab-grown alternatives to ejiao could be a more sustainable solution.
The donkey trade has also cultural significance in Pakistan, particularly in the city of Karachi, where donkey cart racing is a popular sport. Donkeys are also used in labor-intensive industries like brick kilns and waste management. The government's decision to export donkey hides has raised concerns about the impact on these industries and the people who depend on them. Donkey prices in Pakistan have skyrocketed due to high demand from China, making it unaffordable for poor wage earners who rely on donkeys for their livelihood.
As the demand for ejiao continues to drive the donkey trade, it is essential to consider the impact on Pakistan's donkey population, laborers, and industries that depend on them. The government and stakeholders must work together to find sustainable solutions that balance the needs of the ejiao industry with the welfare of donkeys and the people who rely on them.