Hong Kong Customs has intercepted one of the largest illegal shipments of donkey skins in recent years, seizing over 150 tonnes of the animal product concealed in refrigerated containers. The two shipments, intercepted on October 3 and October 7, were reportedly en route to Taiwan and also contained other smuggled goods, including shark fins, cigars, mobile phones, and suspected pharmaceutical items. Authorities estimate the total value of the seizures at nearly 200 million U.S. dollars.

The operation highlights a growing global crisis surrounding the illicit trade in donkey skins, which are primarily used in the production of Ejiao—a traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient made from the collagen extracted from donkey hide. Despite increasing international pressure to halt the trade, demand for Ejiao continues to surge in China, fueling a multi-billion-dollar market that is placing immense strain on global donkey populations.

According to international animal welfare organizations, the booming trade in donkey skins has led to the slaughter of an estimated 5.9 million donkeys each year. The trade, largely driven by demand in Asia, has had devastating effects on rural communities across Africa and Latin America, where donkeys play a vital role in transport, farming, and livelihoods. With populations unable to reproduce fast enough to meet demand, many regions have reported alarming declines in donkey numbers over the past decade.

In Africa, where the majority of the global supply originates, the situation has become particularly dire. The rapid depletion of donkey populations has prompted several countries to impose strict bans on the export and slaughter of the animals for their skins. In 2024, the African Union went a step further, announcing a continent-wide prohibition on the trade in response to widespread ecological and socio-economic concerns. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and reports suggest that smuggling networks continue to exploit weak borders and corruption to traffic donkey hides to Asia through clandestine routes.

The latest seizure by Hong Kong Customs underscores how the illegal donkey skin trade has expanded into a complex transnational operation involving organized smuggling networks. These groups often conceal animal products in mixed cargo to evade detection, routing shipments through multiple countries before they reach processing facilities in China. Once there, the skins are boiled down to produce gelatin used in Ejiao, which is marketed as a remedy to boost blood circulation, improve vitality, and slow aging.

Despite growing awareness of the ethical and ecological implications, demand for Ejiao remains high, and industry bodies within China have called for greater access to donkey supplies to sustain production. This has sparked criticism from conservationists and animal welfare groups, who warn that the global donkey population could collapse within the next two decades if current trends continue. Some estimates suggest that Africa alone could lose up to half of its remaining donkey population by 2040 if urgent action is not taken.

The social and economic consequences of the trade are equally severe. In many rural communities across Africa and Latin America, donkeys are essential for daily survival, used for transporting water, firewood, and agricultural goods. The sudden loss of these animals has forced many families into deeper poverty and disrupted local economies.

Hong Kong’s latest operation adds to a growing list of seizures worldwide, reflecting the expanding scale of the illicit trade and the increasing efforts by customs agencies to curb wildlife trafficking. While no arrests have yet been made in connection with the recent interceptions, investigations are ongoing. Authorities have pledged to strengthen international cooperation to dismantle the criminal networks driving the trade and to enhance monitoring of ports and logistics chains.

The seizure serves as a stark reminder that global demand for traditional animal-based products continues to fuel exploitation and biodiversity loss. Conservationists warn that unless governments adopt coordinated enforcement and consumers shift away from products derived from endangered or exploited species, the impact on both animal populations and human livelihoods could be irreversible.

At a time when ecological balance and sustainable development are increasingly at risk, the case highlights the urgent need for stronger global regulations and ethical alternatives to wildlife-derived products.