EXTINCTION

Chinese demand for donkey skin raises extinction concerns in Brazil

Donkey hides contain a collagen popular in traditional Chinese medicine. Photo: Cacio Murilo/Shutterstock

A November decision by a Brazilian federal court has added a new chapter to a long-running legal battle over the fate of a traditional equine species — and an economic activity buoyed by rising global demand.

In the latest development of a near-decade-long legal back-and-forth, an appellate judge reaffirmed the legality of donkey slaughter in Brazil when carried out by registered meatpackers, upholding earlier rulings. In 2018, an injunction halted slaughter for roughly 10 months; since it was lifted, animal welfare groups have repeatedly filed appeals seeking to block the practice once again.

Yuri Fernandes Lima, an attorney representing the National Donkey Protection Front, said the group is preparing a new appeal — in an attempt to bring the case before the Supreme Court. The ruling is expected to…

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