Kenya has banned the commercial slaughter and export of donkeys in the country. The decision came after protests from animal rights organisations such as The Brooke.
This is a huge blow to China, which is the largest market for the donkeys, where they use the skins to make ejiao, an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicines. Experts approximate that one kg of the ejiao can fetch up to $388.
Kenya legalised trade in donkey meat and hide in 2012 in order to meet growing demand in China.
With the slaughter and export of donkeys ban, therefore, China will be forced to entirely rely on Asia, the Middle East, and South America for the donkey imports.
Other African countries that have banned donkey exports to China include Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Botswana, Uganda and Tanzania.
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