The donkey population in Madhya Pradesh (MP), India, has plummeted drastically over the past three decades, with one Member of Parliament lamenting a staggering 94% decline. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, the state is now left with a mere 3,000 donkeys, a situation described as a "donkey rout". This sharp decrease highlights a concerning trend of dwindling donkey populations across India, driven by a complex interplay of factors ranging from modernization to illegal trade.
Nationally, the numbers paint a grim picture. A recent study indicated a 61% drop in India's donkey population between 2012 and 2019. This decline is attributed to reduced utility of donkeys in various sectors due to increasing mechanization, rising literacy rates leading to a shift in traditional livelihoods, and the adoption of mules for transportation. The states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar have witnessed particularly sharp declines.
One significant factor contributing to the crisis is the illegal donkey hide trade, fueled by a high demand for "ejiao" in traditional Chinese medicine. Ejiao, a gelatin obtained from donkey skin, is used in various products and is believed to improve blood circulation and treat conditions like anemia. With China's domestic donkey population unable to meet the demand, a clandestine network has emerged, targeting donkeys in India and other countries.
Naresh Kadyan, a representative of the International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA) in India, noted that donkey hides are being smuggled out of Madhya Pradesh to exporters in Delhi and Maharashtra. Sukanya Berwal, OIPA’s program director, stated that after being barred from African countries, China is increasingly looking to India and Pakistan to increase its stockpile of donkey hides. Concerns have been raised about the inhumane treatment of donkeys, including the transport of injured, sick, and pregnant animals to slaughterhouses.
The crisis has prompted discussions and potential interventions from government bodies and animal welfare organizations. In late 2022, officials from the ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and various NGOs met to discuss strategies for reviving donkey populations. These discussions aimed to identify potential interventions and stakeholders, particularly in states with significant donkey and mule populations.
Experts have appealed to the Animal Husbandry Department officials to frame policies to protect donkeys. Some strategies being considered include improving breeding policies and husbandry conditions, as well as addressing the lack of emotional attachment to donkeys within communities.
While the export of live donkeys is illegal in India, the illegal trade of donkey hides and meat continues through easily accessible routes. This illegal activity, coupled with other factors like decreasing grazing land and theft, poses a severe threat to the already dwindling donkey population.
The dramatic decline in Madhya Pradesh's donkey population serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing these animals in India. Without concerted efforts to address the root causes of this decline, including the illegal hide trade and the lack of supportive policies, the future of donkeys in India remains uncertain.
