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Federal Court In Brazil Bans Donkey Slaughter Citing Cruelty And Extinction Risk
5 days ago 
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Landmark ruling forces closure of Brazil’s last remaining donkey slaughterhouse
A Federal Court in Brazil has banned the slaughter of donkeys across the state of Bahia, a landmark decision that will force the closure of the country’s last major slaughter operation and help bring an end to the skin trade in the country.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of a dramatic collapse in Brazil’s donkey population. Official data from IBGE and Agrostat show donkey numbers have fallen by 94% between 1996 and 2024, driven by a variety of causes including the demand for skins exported to China for use in ejiao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine made from donkey collagen.
At least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered globally each year to supply the ejiao industry, according to The Donkey Sanctuary. Scientists in Brazil and around the world have repeatedly warned that this model of exploitation is biologically and economically unsustainable, placing Brazil’s genetically unique north‑eastern donkey population at risk of extinction.
In its decision, issued on Monday 13 April, Federal Judge Arali Maciel Duarte recognised evidence of animal cruelty, serious biosecurity failings and a concrete risk of species loss. The Court ordered the immediate suspension of donkey slaughter throughout Bahia, where the country’s last remaining major donkey slaughter facility is located in Amargosa. The ruling mandates the removal of animals from slaughterhouses, farms and transport operations linked to these operations.
The ruling follows a public civil action brought by a coalition of civil society organisations, including The Donkey Sanctuary, União Defensora dos Animais, Rede de Mobilização pela Causa Animal (REMCA), Fórum Nacional de Proteção e Defesa Animal and SOS Animais de Rua.
Whilst this a significant step, the decision does not extend automatically to other Brazilian states, nor does it require slaughterhouses to close, provided they operate lawfully with other species.
Dr Patricia Tatemoto, The Donkey Sanctuary’s nominated Skins Campaign Coordinator, based in Brazil, said:
“This is a moment to be proud. The Federal Court has made a landmark decision to protect the nation’s donkeys, animals who have great cultural significance for the people of Brazil. Scientists have long warned this exploitative trade threatens to drive our donkeys to extinction, and it is profoundly encouraging to see lawmakers stand alongside them in condemning such cruelty.
“Brazil’s scientific community has already shown international leadership by developing sustainable, cruelty‑free alternatives to ejiao. If this progress is matched by a national ban from Congress, we can be confident that in Brazil at least, we will see an end to this cruel and unnecessary trade.”
Eduardo Santurtun, The Donkey Santuary’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said:
“Brazil’s leadership in standing against the donkey skin trade sends a powerful signal across the region and we hope other countries across the Americas will follow its example. Together with the African Union’s moratorium, this decision represents a significant step towards protecting donkeys across the Global South and the countless communities who rely on them.”
Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, said:
“This is a milestone moment for donkey protection. The ruling this week recognises that the donkey skin trade is operating on a scale that causes widespread suffering and poses a real threat to the future of the species in Brazil and around the world. The ban is a powerful validation of what has long been clear: this cruel, unregulated exploitation is neither ethical nor sustainable, and we strongly urge Brazil’s National Congress to act now with an immediate and decisive country-wide ban.”
The ruling overturns earlier judicial decisions in the case, including a November 2025 appeal in which a Federal Regional Court temporarily reinstated authorisation for donkey slaughter.
Scientists at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) are currently developing a world-first method to produce donkey collagen using cellular agriculture - a way of manufacturing animal products which traditionally require harvesting from animals.
The Donkey Sanctuary continues to work with partners in Brazil and internationally to support legal protections for donkeys and a move toward sustainable, cruelty‑free alternatives for collagen production.
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