Donkey Sanctuary teams up with Emirates to combat global skin trafficking

Policy

Michael Doersam Chief Financial & Group Services Officer | Emirates Airline

By Sky Industry News

Dec 11, 2024

The Donkey Sanctuary and Emirates have collaborated to create an Aviation Risk and Threat Assessment operational guide. This initiative aims to address the risks associated with the trade of donkey skins, which is linked to organized crime and illegal wildlife trafficking.

According to The Donkey Sanctuary, six million donkeys are killed annually for their skins, predominantly in Africa. These skins are transported globally by sea and air to be used in traditional medicines. Research conducted by The Donkey Sanctuary, the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, and Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) has revealed significant connections between donkey skin trade and other illegal activities.

Emirates has banned the transport of donkey hides. Following a continent-wide moratorium endorsed by African Heads of State at the 37th African Union Summit in February, Emirates extended its zero-tolerance policy on transporting banned species to include donkey hides.

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As part of its efforts against illegal wildlife trade, Emirates has established rigorous protocols such as screening and document verification. It also provides training for employees across cargo and passenger operations to identify smuggled wildlife.

The newly developed factsheet aims to equip the aviation industry with knowledge on combating the donkey skin trade. It outlines biosecurity risks associated with smuggling inadequately processed donkey skins alongside legitimate cargo like leather or textiles. The guidelines also address concealment methods and crime convergence involving organized networks linked to wildlife and drug trafficking.

Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “This is another welcome step in the battle against the illegal trade in donkey skins within the transportation sector." She commended Emirates for setting new standards through their support and tightening trafficking policies.

Robert Fordree, Senior Vice President of Cargo Operations Worldwide at Emirates SkyCargo, stated: “We are proud to bring our expertise in both air logistics and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.” He expressed hope that working with similar partners will help protect biodiversity for future generations.