There has been an increasing number of reports of donkeys being slaughtered for their skin (hide) and this is an urgent request for our community to be on high alert.
Donkeys are being brutally slaughtered in many areas and their skins salted and packaged ready to be transported to China where they are rendered and processed to obtain a gelatinous substance from their skins used to make Ejiao – an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and for cosmetics.
Donkeys are being rounded up or stolen, then transported and inhumanely slaughtered for their skins. Evidence indicates that the method of slaughter is horrendous. Indications on carcasses have shown a hole behind the head. That is, the donkeys appear to have been “immobilised” with an instrument, then skinned, probably whilst still conscious. Death would have been slow and excruciatingly painful for these animals.
On Friday, 24 February 2017, the Kloof and Highway SPCA, assisted the National Council of SPCA’s with the successful re-location of some of the donkeys from Sani SPCA to Kloof and Highway SPCA, KwaZulu Natal for safe keeping. Earlier in January this year, the Sani SPCA was involved in the impounding of the donkeys destined for Lesotho and four people were arrested. The four accused appeared in court and received R1000.00 fine. The remaining donkeys have been successfully transported to Benoni SPCA, Gauteng.
The Kloof and Highway SPCA are pleased to report that the donkeys arrived safely at our SPCA late on Friday afternoon. They have a vet on site to care for them and their staff have been very busy settling them in and ensuring they are as comfortable as possible after their horrific ordeal. The other donkeys arrived safely at Benoni SPCA in Gauteng on Friday evening and are doing well.
Well done and thank you to everyone involved, especially members of the public who have made donations towards the care of the donkeys. We will keep everyone posted with regular updates about our new friends. If you are interested in adopting please contact us on 031 764 1212/3 or email adoption@kloofspca.co.za.