Context:
Recently, African heads of state unanimously agreed to a historic ban on the trade of donkey skin following the Dar es Salaam declaration.
Dar es Salaam Declaration:
- Signed in – Tanzania during the Pan African Donkey Skin Conference
- Organised by the AU-IBAR
- Outcomes for donkey skin trade –
- Focus on rapid decrease in Africa’s donkey population
- Advocates for increased investment in research, policies, and legislation to safeguard the species.
- Demanded for an African Union Commission (AUC) resolution to be passed in favour of a 15-year ban on the commercial killing of donkeys for skin.
- Creation of an Africa donkey strategy for donkey production and productivity, and the inclusion of donkeys in the global development agenda.
Donkey Skin Trade:
- Largely unregulated, involves cruel practices such as slaughtering for skins for exporting.
- The trade is illegal in some countries and legal in others causing cruelty and suffering to donkeys globally.
- Uses of skin – The collagen from skins used to make ejiao used in food, drink, and beauty products
- ejiao – A traditional Chinese medicine
- Negative Effect –
- Donkeys suffers from sourcing to slaughter treatments during the trade
- Global donkey skin trade undermines 9 UN sustainable development goals, including poverty eradication, impacting millions dependent on donkeys for livelihoods.
- Hampers women and children, limiting education and economic prospects by depriving essential animal support.
Indian Wild Ass:
- Sub-species of Asian Wild Ass
- Distribution – Gujarat (mainly in Rann of Kachchh)
- Habitat – Desert and grassland ecosystems
- Features – Distinguished by white markings on the front of the rump and back of the shoulder, along with a stripe down the back outlined in white
- Conservation Status –
- IUCN: Near threatened
- CITES: Appendix II
- Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule-I
Donkeys found in India:
- Primarily used to carry heavy loads
| Breed | Native region |
| Kachchhi | Gujarat (Kutch region) |
| Halari | Gujarat (Saurashtra ) |
| Sindhi | Rajasthan (Barmer and Jaisalmer) |
| Spiti | Himachal Pradesh (Cold desert areas) |
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law?
1. Gharial
2. Indian wild ass
3. Wild buffalo
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
