Calling for urgent action to protect Africa’s donkey population

As a member of the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE), World Horse Welfare attended an event this week to support a call on Africa’s member states to take urgent action to protect the continent’s donkeys from the trade in skins.

Donkeys across Africa are facing a critical population decline, driven by the escalating trade in donkey skins. At a high-level side event during the 92nd WOAH General Session, ICWE members and the African Union – Internal Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) called on senior veterinary officials to support the implementation of moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins and the development of a new strategy to protect and preserve this vital species.

Dr. Huyam Salih, Director, AU-IBAR explained that donkeys were a species too often overlooked despite their profound socio-economic significance, and said:
“Donkeys are an integral part of the African livelihood fabric. Their relentless support to agriculture, transport, income generation, and contribution to food and nutrition security as well as their role in the daily lives of rural women, men, youth, and children is indispensable. Yet, they remain vulnerable—particularly in the face of emerging threats

“One key threat is the commercial exploitation and mass slaughter of donkeys for their skins, primarily driven by demand in the traditional Chinese medicine industry. This growing trade poses a grave danger to the sustainability of donkey populations and, by extension, the communities who depend on them.”

In response to this crisis, AU-IBAR secured a resolution of the African Union in 2024 to introduce a moratorium on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins, and the development of a strategy for the preservation of donkeys across the continent, protecting them as a national resource.

This political and technical momentum has now been captured in a draft version of the Pan-African Strategy for the Preservation, Welfare, and Sustainable Utilization of Donkeys in Africa. 

Emmanuel Sarr, Regional Director for Brooke in West Africa, presented a draft of the Pan-African Donkey Strategy on behalf of AU-IBAR – highlighting its vision of an Africa where donkeys are recognised both as sentient beings with intrinsic value and as contributors to socio-economic development, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods. There is now an urgent need to increase commitment, investment, and capacity among AU Member States and stakeholders to ensure a thriving donkey population and their responsible, welfare-conscious use.

Speaking on behalf of the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE), Ian Cawsey, Director of Advocacy & Campaigns at The Donkey Sanctuary, said:
“We are grateful for the support of the African Union to take action on the alarming decline in donkey numbers caused by demand for their skins for traditional medicine.

“The development of a Pan-African donkey preservation strategy is not just an opportunity to protect donkey numbers, but also to embed the need to ensure they have good health and welfare.

“This would not just improve the lives of donkeys, it will help people as well, not least by improving the life chances of women and children who are often needed to carry out additional work when donkey numbers fall. As one participant here so clearly said, “Without donkeys, women become the donkeys of the family.”

 “The support from delegates at the event was heartening. There is a lot to do and time is not on our side. But there is a resolve to make this a success.”

The presentations prompted a number of comments from senior animal health representatives from member states, who echoed the need for action. Some suggested donkeys be given protected status similar to that of elephants, or being included in the CITES appendix as endangered species and that official vets should ask where donkey products are coming from before signing off their export.

Dr Salih invited all African stakeholders to the upcoming Pan African Donkey Conference which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire on the 26th to 27th June under the theme “Africa’s Commitment in Policy and Practice to the Donkey Preservation: Now and in the Future”. The conference and strategy are being supported by the International Coalition for Working Equids, comprised of Brooke, The Donkey Sanctuary, SPANA and World Horse Welfare.