Around six million donkeys are killed annually for their skins, with most of these animals being slaughtered in Africa. These skins are exported globally by air and sea and used in traditional medicines and remedies, as revealed by recent data from The Donkey Sanctuary.
To combat this issue, Dubai’s Emirates airline partnered with The Donkey Sanctuary, an international animal welfare organization, to draw attention to the dangers of transporting donkey skins in air cargo. Together, they launched the Aviation Risk and Threat Assessment operational guide, highlighting how this trade is tied to organized crime and wildlife trafficking.
Evidence has shown that the transport of donkey skins is often linked with other illegal activities, including wildlife smuggling and drug trafficking. Additionally, the unregulated and unsanitary nature of the skin trade poses a significant biosecurity risk on a global scale.
Emirates’ Strict Actions Against the Donkey Skin Trade
Emirates has taken a firm stand by banning the transportation of donkey hides. Earlier this year, at the 37th African Union Summit, African leaders endorsed a ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins across the continent. Following this decision, Emirates extended its zero-tolerance policy to include donkey hides, banned species, hunting trophies, and related products.
Already a leader in fighting wildlife trafficking, Emirates has established strict protocols, including cargo screening, spot checks, document verification, and staff training to recognize and report smuggled goods. These measures aim to halt illegal activities linked to the donkey skin trade.
Educating the Aviation Industry
The Donkey Sanctuary and Emirates co-created an informational factsheet to raise awareness within the aviation sector. This guide explains the risks of smuggling improperly processed donkey skins, which are often hidden alongside legal cargo like leather or textiles. It also highlights how criminal networks involved in this trade are often connected to wildlife and drug trafficking.
By providing practical advice and exposing the risks, the two organizations hope to inspire other airlines to enhance their detection and enforcement efforts. The goal is to make it harder for traffickers to exploit air cargo systems for illegal activities.
A Call for Industry Action
Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, praised Emirates for setting new standards in the fight against this cruel trade. She stated:
“This is another welcome step in the battle against the illegal trade in donkey skins within the transportation sector. We are proud to work alongside Emirates, which is setting new standards with its support for our work and the tightening of its own trafficking policies. We hope that others in the aviation industry will follow suit and join us in cracking down on this cruel and unsustainable trade.
“All measures that shine a light on the inhumane trade in donkey skins are to be applauded, especially given its links to illegal wildlife trafficking and organized crime as well as the threat to human health for everyone involved at every stage in the process.”
By leading the charge against this trade, Emirates and The Donkey Sanctuary hope to inspire collective action to stop the exploitation of donkeys and protect global biosecurity.
