File photo of "ejiao." (Photo/Xinhua)
阿胶需求量太大 尼日尔的驴都不够用了
Niger bans the export of donkeys after Asian demand
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.
一位政府官员表示："如果驴制品出口量持续增加,驴的数量势必大幅减少."
China imports many donkey hides, using the gelatin in medicinal tonics, aphrodisiacs and anti-ageing creams.
中国进口大量驴皮,使用驴胶来制作补品、催欲药以及抗衰老护肤品.
In August, neighbouring Burkina Faso banned the export of donkey skins on similar grounds.
今年8月,尼日尔邻国布基纳法索也以同样的原因禁止驴皮的出口.
"About 80,000 donkeys have been exported so far this year compared to 27,000 last year," Atte Issa, at Niger's livestock ministry, said.
尼日尔畜牧局的工作人员阿特•伊萨表示："比起去年2.7万的出口量,今年大约有8万头驴出口到国外."
The government has also banned the slaughter of any donkeys within Niger.
政府同时也发布了禁止在尼日尔境内屠杀驴的法令.
The BBC's Baro Arzika in Niger's capital, Niamey, says the trade in donkeys has become so profitable that livestock sellers are abandoning other animals for the donkey trade.
据BBC报道,由于驴制品交易获益丰厚,牲畜经营商们纷纷放弃经营其他畜类产品,专门做驴制品生意.
A donkey now costs between $100 (£75) and $145, when it used to cost about $34.
以往,一头驴只能卖到34美元,而今可以卖到100美元到145美元.
A similar price hike in donkey skin was witnessed in Burkina Faso where the animal's hide rose from about $4 (£3) a few years ago to $50.
在布基纳法索,驴皮价格同样从几年前的一张4美元涨到了50美元.
In both countries donkeys are commonly used to transport goods, though some communities eat their meat.
在这两个国家,驴多被用来运输货物,在部分地区,也会吃驴肉.
The ban was issued through a joint decree by Niger's ministries of farming, finance and internal affairs and trade.
