Date: 19 May 2026

Donkey skin remains in high demand in China for the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine believed to treat miscarriage, improve blood circulation, and slow premature aging. However, the trade of donkeys from Pakistan to China for ejiao reveals a complex reality. Both legal and illegal exports have become widespread, creating significant and often devastating effects on the livelihoods of donkey keepers who already live on the margins of society. In this talk, I explore the shared vulnerability of donkeys and their keepers amid Pakistan’s ongoing political and economic crises.