Booming Chinese demand for donkey hides fuels black market resurgence
DNA
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has dismantled an illegal donkey slaughter operation in the Tarnol area near the federal capital, seizing over one tonne of meat and rescuing more than 50 donkeys destined for unregulated slaughter.
The raid conducted in coordination with local police and the district administration also led to the arrest of a foreign national, believed to be linked to a wider illegal network involved in the processing and export of donkey meat.
IFA Deputy Director Dr Tahira Siddique confirmed that 25 maunds (1,000 kilograms) of meat were found packed and ready for distribution, Geo Tv reported.
“Initial investigations suggest the meat was not only being sold locally but was also being prepared for export abroad, in violation of health, safety, and export regulations,” she said. “The meat was destroyed on site, and further legal action is underway,” she added.
Aa police case has been registered against the accused, and a full-scale investigation is now focused on identifying the buyers and supply chain networks connected to the operation.
The raid comes against the backdrop of soaring international demand for donkey hides and meat, particularly from China, where the animals are not only used in culinary practices but also form the backbone of the e-jiao industry—a traditional medicinal product made from donkey skin collagen.
The product has 3,000 years of history and is protected as a form of national cultural heritage, according to Chinese state media. China’s Shandong province alone accounts for 90% of the world’s e-jiao production.
To sustain this demand, millions of donkey hides are needed annually, according to a 2024 report by The Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based animal welfare organization. This demand has triggered a sharp rise in illegal slaughter around the world and Pakistan is no exception.
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