End U.S. involvement in donkey slaughter and skin trade

UPDATE (7/11/24): After collecting 51,274 signatures in support of the Ejiao Act, Species Unite handed in our petition to a representative of Congressman Donald Beyer so that he may use it as evidence of the overwhelming support for his bill. We are now turning our attention to reaching out to individual members of Congress. Will you join us? Even if you signed the original petition, please follow the steps above to write a letter. It only takes a minute and can make a huge difference.

UPDATE (02/18/24): Progress! The African Union has banned the Donkey skin trade. The ban will make it illegal to slaughter donkeys for their skins throughout all of Africa and will put increased pressure on the international community including the United States to do their part to end this horrific business.

Every year, nearly 5 million donkeys are slaughtered for their skins — and the numbers are only going up. These innocent animals are brutally beaten and often skinned alive so that their pelts can be used to make a type of gelatin called ejiao, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. This is a far-reaching global crisis that is decimating international donkey populations and devastating poor families in the global south who face the threat of having their donkeys kidnapped and killed.

We now have an opportunity to make a difference on the demand side of this gruesome international trade thanks to a bill that would ban the import of donkey skin gelatin. Originally introduced by U.S. Representative Don Beyer of Virginia, the Ejiao Act would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban the knowing sale or transport of ejiao made using donkey skin — or products containing ejiao made using donkey skin — in interstate or foreign commerce. However, the Ejiao Act must first be reintroduced in the 119th Congress in order to move forward. This critical legislation cannot be passed unless members of Congress take action to bring it back to the floor.

Although China is the largest importer of donkey skin gelatin, the United States is also complicit — accounting for an estimated $12 million worth of annual imports.

By importing donkey skin gelatin, the United States contributes to the theft and murder of these innocent animals across the global south — particularly in hard hit Kenya.

In an interconnected world where supply is based on demand, we can make a difference here in the United States to help put a stop to this horrific international trade once and for all.

If you live in the U.S., please reach out to your Member of the House of Representatives and ask them to do the right thing by cosponsoring the Ejiao Act once it is reintroduced in the 119th Congress.

If you don’t live in the United States, you can help raise awareness for this important bill by sharing this petition on social media.