中国伝統薬用のロバ皮生産を禁止、ロバの盗難多発で失業者も　ケニア

【ナイロビＡＦＰ＝時事】ケニア政府は、中国伝統薬の製造に使用される皮を生産するためにロバを殺すことを禁止した。同国の農畜水産相が27日、明らかにした。ロバ皮の生産をめぐっては、残酷で必要不可欠でもない上、アフリカ大陸内のロバの個体数を著しく減少させているとして、動物愛護活動家らが非難していた。（写真は資料写真）
　ケニアのピーター・ムニャ農畜水産相はＡＦＰの取材に対し、「転売するためにロバが盗まれる事件が増え、禁止を求める請願があった」と説明した。農作物の生産や水の運搬にロバを使っている農家で、ロバの盗難事件が多発し、「大量の失業者」が出ているという。
　禁止法は今週施行されたが、ロバ肉の販売を手掛けている食肉処理場４か所には、業務停止まで１カ月の猶予が与えられた。
　ロバの皮は、中国の伝統薬で血行を良くし、老化や精力増強などに効くとされる「阿膠（あきょう）」と呼ばれる膠（にかわ）を作るために中国へ輸出されている。
　かつて皇帝の保存食とされていた阿膠は、現在では急増している中国の中流層の人々に高い人気がある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/02-12:22）

Kenya has decided to ban the slaughter of donkeys for use in Chinese medicine, a practice condemned by animal rights activists as cruel, unnecessary and devastating to donkey populations in Africa, a minister said on Thursday.
Agriculture Minister Peter Munya told AFP that the ban, imposed earlier this week, came after people petitioned my office to ban the slaughtering of donkeys because theft of donkeys to sell had increased.
A ministry statement said rampant theft of donkeys was hitting farmers who use them to transport agricultural produce and water, and causing massive unemployment.
Four abattoirs dealing in donkey meat have been given a month to stop the practice.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hailed Kenya's decision to cut ties with a cruel trade that sentences gentle donkeys to miserable deaths by the millions.
No one needs donkey skin except the animals who were born in it, said PETA Senior Vice President of International Campaigns Jason Baker.
Donkey skins are exported to China to make a traditional medicine known as ejiao, which is believed to improve blood circulation, slow ageing, and boost libido and fertility.
It was once the preserve of emperors but is now highly sought after by a burgeoning middle-class.
A PETA investigation last year showed donkeys being cruelly beaten by workers, or dead after long truck journeys from neighbouring countries.
UK-based animal welfare organisation The Donkey Sanctuary told AFP at the time that there were tales of the animals being rounded up and machine-gunned or bludgeoned to death
China is increasingly looking to Africa to satisfy demand as its own donkey population has nearly halved in recent years.
However several African countries have now banned Chinese-funded abattoirs or implemented policies to stop the export of donkey skins to China.
Donkeys reproduce slowly and do not handle stress well, and activists have raised fears that populations could be wiped out in east Africa in a matter of years.