Breaking! More Than 100 Injured Donkeys Rescued From Slaughter For The Skin Trade In South Africa

Over 100 donkeys were recently rescued from being slaughtered for the barbaric skin trade by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), with assistance from the Mooi River SPCA.

As per a statement by The Donkey Sanctuary, which supports and works with the NSPCA to help end the cruel and unnecessary global skin trade, the rescued donkeys, including several young foals, were en route from South Africa to neighboring Lesotho; a country where there has been an escalation in the illegal skin trade for the production of ejiao.

“The incident appears to signal a shocking return of the donkey skin trade after almost 18 months of apparent inactivity,” said Marcelle Meredith, Executive Director of the NSPCA, further explaining that the organization has been investigating the donkey skin trade for more than five years. “The manner in which donkey skins are obtained is gut-wrenching, starting from the way the animals are handled, transported, butchered, and sometimes even skinned alive.”

Sadly, the rescued donkeys were suffering from severe infections and open wounds, and some even had ears missing. Many of the animals were extremely thin, with ribs showing through their hides. They were also infested with ticks.

Approximately 36 mothers and young foals were despatched to the Kloof and Highway SPCA facility near Durban. The remaining donkeys traveled to the Johannesburg SPCA, where they will continue to be cared for until they can be rehomed.

The Donkey Sanctuary was able to support the NSPCA with funding for the cost of their transportation.