Feral donkey donkeys were introduced to australia from africa in 1866 to work as pack animals. Ejiao the chinese miracle cure decimating the worlds. Since that time it has grown to encompass all donkey breeds of australia, in order to cater for the growing interest in this wonderful animal, the preservation of australias heritage. Australia may be our last resort for donkey hides before long. Developing countries are home to over 90% of the donkey population. About the fact sheet australia has an estimated 400 000 feral horses and millions of feral donkeys, mainly in central and northern australia. The african wild ass is extremely endangered and these direct descendants once again flourished making up 70% of the worlds free roaming donkey population. Half worlds donkey population could be killed in five.
Donkey populations are under serious threat due to the demand for their hides, which are used in traditional chinese medicine, according to a new report. Chinas donkey population, meanwhile, has halved from 9. Donkeys, people and development 11 regional and world trends in donkey populations this paper is published in. Feral donkeys can be unpopular for a variety of reasons. The chinese donkey population has fallen from about 11 million to fewer than six million in recent years, as motor vehicle use has more than tripled in the past seven years.
The donkey skins are in high demand in china where they are boiled to make a gelatin called ejiao. As this sweet young survivor of severe malnutrition, nuzzles a child or looks for approving rubs from adults, we are reminded of his beginnings two years ago. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this population could have halved since the 2006 survey was conducted. Taking benny on public outings is a joyful experience. Starting 17 years ago with just three, ms young now has more than half of australias miniature donkey population. Has culling more than 500,000 feral donkeys in the. The craze is driven by a potent mix of snobbery, superstition and state propaganda. There are reports of large donkeys in the 1830s and in the 1840s big donkey jacks arrived from malta and valparaiso, chile, came in, some reported for sale from 1841. The donkey wants to please, and finds even the smallest gesture of kindness a great gift. Chinese health fad thats decimating donkey populations. His concerns are shared by deej vicepresident wu huaifeng, who told shareholders earlier this year. In some areas of colombia, fathers force their sons to have sex with donkeys as a right of passage. The largest donkey breed in the world is the american mammoth donkey, a breed descended from donkeys bred by george washington and henry clay. In 2018 alone, close to 1,000 donkeys were reported stolen in several areas across kenya.
Having depleted its own donkey population, china has turned to feral and working donkeys in australia, south america, africa and the middle east. Chinas donkey population dropped from 11 million in 1990 to 3 million today, based on government data ejiao, the gelatine produced by boiling. There is no domestic market for donkey meat or hides but donkey products. At one point the continent was home to 5,000,000 donkeys, as of 2019 less than 1,000,000 remain. In response to the surging demand, statebuilt donkey abattoirs have sprung up in the african nations of namibia, tanzania, kenya, ethiopia and botswana. Abstract keywords feral donkeys, northern australia, control. Predation by dingos and the strategic culling of jacks. Half the worlds donkey population could be wiped out in the next five years, as millions are slaughtered for their hides to meet rising demand for a traditional chinese medicine. Brooke ea is calling for a ban on the export of donkey. Current donkey population in 2006 an area of,000 square kilometres was surveyed in the nt with an estimated population of 50,000 to 60,000 donkeys. Pakistan has become the third largest country in donkey population with estimated number of over 5 million. Pestsmart connect is a toolkit of information on best practice pest animals management in australia. In shooting cats, vice set out to explore the consequences of australias feral cat plague, and confront the uncomfortable and violent realities of dealing with it. Conducting yearly aerial culls to control the kimberleys donkey population has cost a lot of money.
Sydney eatery selling donkey burgers northern beaches. Feral horses pose a particularly complex management problem because they can have economic and cultural value, and debate. New report names australia as 8th biggest importer of ejiao, a traditional chinese medicine decimating donkey populations by debbiecoffey on august 29, 2018 2 comments although this report came out in may, 2018, we wanted to focus more attention on burrodonkey issues worldwide, and wanted you to have an opportunity to read this. Sporadic introduction of a cattle herd into the area to discourage territorial behaviour. The majority of donkey owners have lost their livelihoods in the process. In many countries of the world, and in many situations, they are used as the preferred mode of transport. Donkey populations globally are under serious threat due to the demand for their hides, which are used in traditional chinese medicine, according to a 2019 report by the donkey sanctuary, a uk. Mikes donkeys for thousands of years donkeys have been the helping hooves of humankind they are the original beasts of burden. Australias largest collection of miniature donkeys can be. Kenya bans commercial slaughter of donkeys bbc news.
New report names australia as 8th biggest importer of. Donkeys stolen, skinned in africa to feed chinese demand. It is estimated there are tens of thousands of feral donkeys in the arid zones of central australia, western australia and the top end. But in the search for new friends its entangled one of. U pon the domesticat ion of these animals, the lower economic class became dependant of them.
Australia has an estimated 300 000 feral horses and up to five million feral donkeys, mainly in central and northern australia. Peaceful valley donkey rescue donkey rescue international. Feral donkeys are a pest in the northern territory, where a large donkey population is wreaking havoc on the environment. Territory where there is a huge population of donkey which are having a. As stated by the wikipedia resource, the global population of these animals estimated as much as 41 million individuals in 2006, 11 million of which lived in china the largest population of this species by country. They wander onto the road at night and cause traffic accidents, compete with livestock for food sources or eat crops. Other states with large numbers of donkey population are pakistan, ethiopia and mexico. Refer to figure 1 for indicative densities in the nt. Therefore, donkeys can be found in parts of africa, asia, europe, the americas, and even australia. Kenya bans slaughterhouses following a rise in theft of. Donkey welfare campaigners are extremely concerned about welfare standards and the effect on donkey numbers worldwide. Donkey hide gel is the new rhino horn and bear bile, critics say, and now the industry wants australias feral donkeys. Donkeys are much more of an all terrain animal than horses. The availability of inexpensive surplus donkeys apparently stimulated production and use of a gelatin derived from donkey hide called ejiao, used in traditional chinese.
Potential of the donkey industry in the northern territory. Pakistan becomes third largest country in donkey population. Populations seem to have plateaued out, due to predation and a male biased population. Donkey population decimated by chinese medicine demand cnn. Since then, the world donkey population has increased steadily. I always wanted to breed something, but i didnt want to breed something that. Charity donkey sanctuary, which is based in devon, has warned that half the worlds donkey population could be wiped out as the demand for ejiao gel, which is made from donkey skin, grows. According to punjab livestock department, the number of. In australia, authorities cull feral herds to keep numbers down, shooting the animals from helicopters or on the ground. Ironically, even ejiao producers are concerned about the dwindling donkey population. Chinas donkey population dropped from 11m in 1990 to 3m today, based on government data ejiao, the gelatine produced by boiling.