Donkeys' Heads Bashed
in With Sledgehammers, Throats Cut in China for Gelatin in Their Skin
At every farm visited by PETA's observer, donkeys were confined to
small, filthy concrete-floored pens. Kept outdoors, they were only partially
protected from the elements by a tin roof, and many were seen standing in their
own waste. The only
water available to them was filthy and green with algae. One donkey was so malnourished that his ribs
stuck out. Another was so sick that he couldn't walk, so he was dumped into
the bucket of a tractor and hauled away. Workers confided to the PETA observer
that they were concerned that environmental inspectors would fine them or shut
down the facility.
At a donkey
market, the PETA observer documented that hundreds of doomed animals were
forced to wait in crowded pens in the hot summer sun for their turn to be
bought and then sent to a farm for slaughter. Terrified donkeys were beaten
with sticks, including one who was hit and screamed at when she attempted to
escape through a gate that was left open.
At the end
of their lives, they're killed in an inhumane way. Video footage shows farmers
swinging a sledgehammer at a donkey's forehead and then cutting the animal's throat.
Some of the donkeys continue to breathe and move after being bludgeoned.
Today, the
market for ejiao is growing rapidly – it can be found in beverages, candy, and
even beauty products. Donkeys are now being imported into China for slaughter
from other countries in Asia and from nations in the Middle East, Africa, and
South America in order to meet the demand. While some countries, such as
Pakistan and 10 African nations, have closed Chinese-funded slaughterhouses and
developed policies to ban the export of donkey skin to China, others, like Australia,
are shamefully considering opening up a live-export trade. The industry is fueling
a black market for donkeys, and many are being stolen or slaughtered illegally
so that people can profit from China's medicinal market. The demand is so high
that other animals, such as horses, pigs, and cows, are now suffering the same
gruesome fate in the production of fake ejiao.
According to Dr. Lee Yuming, "There is a misconception about ejiao –
it is not the most effective medicine to improve blood circulation in spite of
its long history in traditional medicine. Nowadays, there are many other
options that are much more effective in improving one's health, including
modern drugs and herbal medicines."
The Northern Territory government in Australia exports
donkey hides to China to fuel the cruel ejiao industry and is considering
expanding this business by implementing a live-donkey export industry. Please
urge Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to ban exports of live donkeys to
China immediately.
