Niger has banned the export of donkeys, warning that a three-fold increase in trade, mainly to Asian countries, is threatening its donkey population.

 

尼日尔禁止对外出口驴制品，并表示亚洲国家的驴制品需求已使其交易量增长了三倍之多，这将威胁到本国驴的数量。

 

"If the export continues the animals will be decimated," a government official has told the BBC.

 

China imports many donkey hides, using the gelatin in medicinal tonics¹, aphrodisiacs and anti-ageing creams.

 

In August, neighbouring Burkina Faso banned the export of donkey skins on similar grounds.

 

"About 80,000 donkeys have been exported so far this year compared to 27,000 last year," Atte Issa, at Niger's livestock² ministry³, said.

 

The government has also banned the slaughter⁴ of any donkeys within Niger.

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