Scavenging for Ejiao's raw material and the extinction of donkeys in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the increasing presence of merchants in Northern Nigeria purchasing donkeys in large numbers beyond domestic consumption in parts of Nigeria that eat its meat and drink its milk. Also, this paper examines the economic and social effects on donkey users, especially in rural areas. Theoretically, this paper has adopted a Marxist explanation as the framework of analysis to analyse the trade between China and Nigeria. Methodologically, this paper employed a phenomenological research design under qualitative research where data were obtained from in-depth interviews and key informant interviews in Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto States with owners, marketers and users of donkeys in the selected states. This paper found that the areas surveyed witnessed an influx of marketers, foreign and domestic, who were into the business of trading donkeys or its skin. This paper also found that as a result of the high demand for donkeys, the owners preferred to sell their donkeys than domesticate them, because of the mouth-watering price from exporters. The study revealed that the majority of the villagers were not aware of what the exporters used the donkeys for. This is because the Chinese traders or their agents have not established manufacturing in Nigeria where the donkey serves as a raw material for the production of a traditional medicine called ejiao. This paper concludes that villagers are not aware of the cumulative effects of the unprecedented demand for donkey’s skin to produce ejiao and this is evident in the shrinking population of donkeys in Nigeria. This paper recommends that if trading donkeys is not controlled, there is a tendency that the donkey would become extinct in Nigeria, which will have adverse effects on the life of rural dwellers who rely on it for transportation of goods and domesticate it as an asset. Keywords: China, donkey’s skin, ejiao, globalisation, Nigeria, trading.

The Donkey Skin Trade: Challenges and Opportunities for Policy Change

“…Although used for centuries, in recent years the use of donkey skin to produce ejiao has rapidly increased (Donkey Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020; Donkey Sanctuary, 2017; Maigari et al 2020; McLean & Gonzalez, 2018). The increase in demand for ejiao is likely due to the strong economic growth in China and an increase in disposable incomes (Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020).…”

“…The increase in demand for ejiao is likely due to the strong economic growth in China and an increase in disposable incomes (Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020). It is viewed as a luxury product among the upper and middle class and demonstrates wealth and/or social class (Maigari et al 2020). The skins are boiled to form a hard gel, which is used in various health and beauty products.…”

“…The growing demand for donkey skins has also likely contributed to the decline of donkeys in China (Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020) and is now putting the global population at risk (Donkey Sanctuary, 2017; McLean & Gonzalez, 2018; Skippen et al 2021). As China has an insufficient supply of donkeys to meet the demand, donkey skins are sourced from Africa (Maigari et al 2020), South America and Australia, with Australia reportedly supplying feral donkeys to meet the demand (Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020). Through a combination of increased demand and a shortage of donkeys, the price of ejiao, donkey skins and donkeys have increased significantly (Bennett & Pfuderer, 2020, Donkey Sanctuary, 2019).…”

Feral pharmaceuticalization—Biomedical uses of animal life in light of the global donkey hide trade

“…Such a phenomenon, however, is not restricted to remote Kenyan areas. Contrarily, it can be observed in several other African and Latin American countries as well (Gameiro et al 2021a , b ; Binda 2019 ; Maigari 2020 ; Matlhola and Chen 2020 ; Chiwome 2019 ). Donkeys have been sourced from these continents as the Chinese donkey population strongly decreased (FAO 2021 ) and the skin prices increased, following a rise in ejiao production and prices.…”

“…We contend that the apparent marginality of the evolving ejiao industry compared to the most dominant pharmaceutical practices offers a very apt opportunity to describe feral pharmaceuticalization in its most fragile and contested dynamic, pertaining to knowledge production and legitimization, institutional recognition, environmental inscription, and cultural acceptance. It also seems relevant to consider the pharmaceutical nature of ejiao since most papers specifically dealing with the donkey trade for ejiao production leave aside the discussion about skin pharmaceuticalization and tend to emphasize animal welfare issues and the socioeconomic importance of donkeys to communities (i.e., Norris et al 2021 ; Carder et al 2019 ; Gameiro et al 2021b ; Farias et al 2021 ; Skippen et al 2021 ; Maigari et al 2020 ).…”