A booming Chinese market for traditional medicine is driving a lucrative trade in African donkey hides, with serious consequences for rural livelihoods, animal welfare and biodiversity. Demand is fuelled by ejiao, a gelatin product made from donkey skin that has expanded beyond traditional medicine into cosmetics, food and wellness products. Africa, home to about two-thirds of the world’s donkeys, has become a major source of supply as China’s domestic population struggles to meet demand. An estimated four to five million hides are needed annually, while China imports more than three million, according to figures cited by the Donkey Sanctuary. Between 25% and 35% are believed to come from stolen animals. The trade is particularly damaging to rural women and girls, who rely on donkeys to transport water, firewood and agricultural produce. Although the African Union backed a 15-year moratorium on donkey slaughter for hides in 2024, uneven enforcement and cross-border smuggling continue to undermine the effort. The challenge is protecting an essential working animal from a global market that places a premium on its skin.