Half of the world’s 44 million donkeys could be wiped out over the next five years if demand continues at its current pace.
Nearly five million skins are used every year to make ejiao, a gel believed in China to be a remedy for troubles ranging from colds to ageing, putting enormous strain on donkey populations around the world, Britain-based animal welfare group Donkey Group said in a report last month.
Kyrgyzstan has lost more than half of its donkeys so far, and there are concerns for a similar winnowing in Kenya and Ghana.
