China's Donkey Hide Surge from Africa: New Book Exposes 15-Year Trade Explosion and Ecological Stakes
A new investigation reveals China's exponential demand for donkey hides over the past 15 years has triggered a transcontinental trade reshaping African livestock economies. Researcher Lauren Johnston's new book traces the drivers, consequences, and policy gaps behind the surge.
- China's 15-year exponential demand for donkey hides has driven millions of annual exports from Africa, primarily fueling traditional medicine markets.
- The trade threatens rural livelihoods and donkey populations, with experts warning of unsustainable extraction rates outpacing regulatory frameworks.
- Lauren Johnston's research calls for bilateral policy interventions, sustainable breeding programs, and transparent supply-chain tracking to mitigate long-term ecological and economic impacts.
China is importing millions of donkey hides from Africa each year, a trade that has grown exponentially over the past 15 years and now stands as a defining element of the continent's livestock economy. The surge, driven almost entirely by demand from Chinese markets, has reshaped cross-border commerce and raised urgent questions about sustainability. According to a new book by specialist Lauren Johnston, the phenomenon traces its roots to a rapid expansion in traditional medicine applications and global supply chain dynamics. The findings, originally reported by Phys.org, mark the first comprehensive academic tracing of the trade's scale and impact.
The donkey hide trade is not new, but its velocity and scale have accelerated dramatically since the early 2000s. Rising demand for ejiao, a collagen-based traditional Chinese medicine, has created a billion-dollar market that reaches across sub-Saharan Africa, where donkeys are vital transport and agricultural assets. Researchers warn that unchecked extraction threatens rural livelihoods, particularly in countries where donkeys are indispensable for smallholder farming. Johnston's work contextualizes this modern boom against decades of stable, low-volume trade, highlighting a pivotal shift in Africa's agricultural infrastructure.
