阿膠需求量太大 尼日爾的驢都不夠用了

Niger has banned the export of donkeys, warning that a three-fold increase in trade, mainly to Asian countries, is threatening its donkey population.

尼日爾禁止對外出口驢製品，並表示亞洲國家的驢製品需求已使其交易量增長了三倍之多，這將威脅到本國驢的數量。

"If the export continues the animals will be decimated," a government official has told the BBC.

一位政府官員表示：“如果驢製品出口量持續增加，驢的數量勢必大幅減少。”

China imports many donkey hides, using the gelatin in medicinal tonics, aphrodisiacs and anti-ageing creams.

中國進口大量驢皮，使用驢膠來製作補品、催欲藥以及抗衰老護膚品。

In August, neighbouring Burkina Faso banned the export of donkey skins on similar grounds.

今年8月，尼日爾鄰國布基納法索也以同樣的原因禁止驢皮的出口。

"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.

尼日爾畜牧局的工作人員阿特•伊薩表示：“比起去年2.7萬的出口量，今年大約有8萬頭驢出口到國外。”

The government has also banned the slaughter of any donkeys within Niger.

政府同時也發佈了禁止在尼日爾境內屠殺驢的法令。

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.

據BBC報道，由於驢製品交易獲益豐厚，牲畜經營商們紛紛放棄經營其他畜類產品，專門做驢製品生意。

A donkey now costs between $100 (￡75) and $145, when it used to cost about $34.

以往，一頭驢只能賣到34美元，而今可以賣到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.

在布基納法索，驢皮價格同樣從幾年前的一張4美元漲到了50美元。

In both countries donkeys are commonly used to transport goods, though some communities eat their meat.

在這兩個國家，驢多被用來運輸貨物，在部分地區，也會吃驢肉。

The ban was issued through a joint decree by Niger's ministries of farming, finance and internal affairs and trade.

這項禁令由尼日爾的農業部門、財政部門以及內政外貿部門聯合發佈。

Why China can't get enough donkeys

爲什麼中國的驢市場總是供不應求？

Gelatin made from donkey skin is highly prized in China as a medicinal tonic, thought to nourish the blood, boost the immune system and act as a general pick-me-up. It is sometimes referred to as one of the "three nourishing treasures" (zi bu san bao), along with ginseng and the antlers of young deer.

中國人認爲從驢皮中提取出來的驢膠具有疏通血液、改善免疫機制以及提神的功能，多用於製作保健補品，被視爲保健珍品。有時，驢膠與人蔘、鹿茸一同被稱爲“滋補三寶”。

The most famous donkey gelatin is produced in Dong'e County in Shandong Province, where it is traditionally made with the local well-water.

中國山東省東阿縣是最著名的驢膠產地，當地用古法井水製作驢膠。

Donkey gelatin is sometimes mixed with walnuts, goji berries and other tonic foods and sold in dark, gummy slabs that can be eaten as a snack.

驢膠通常與核桃、枸杞以及其他滋補品一起混合製成黑色有嚼勁的厚片，可以用來當零食吃。

Health and longevity is a Chinese national obsession, and tonic foods like this are often lavishly packaged and presented as expensive gifts.

健康長壽是中國人的追求，而類似的滋補品則經常以極爲精美的包裝作爲貴重禮品相贈。

Aside from gelatin, donkey meat is a delicacy in some Chinese regions, especially in the north of the country.

除了驢膠，驢肉也深受中國人喜愛，尤其是在中國北方地區。

Here, the lean meat is often simmered in a richly-spiced broth, and then cooled, sliced and served with a refreshing dip of chopped garlic and vinegar. The meat has a fine, dense texture and a marvellous flavour that's a little reminiscent of beef.

在那裏，精瘦的驢肉會配上香料在鍋裏燉，等到驢肉冷卻再切片，與蒜片醋料一同呈上餐桌。驢肉紋理縝密堅韌，味道極佳，風味有點像牛肉。

In northern Hebei province, one famous snack is the lu rou huo shao, in which chopped, spiced donkey meat is mixed with fresh green chilli and stuffed into a layered pastry - its name is sometimes translated into English as a "donkey burger".

河北省北部有一種叫做驢肉火燒的著名小吃：切碎的驢肉與新鮮的青椒一同夾入燒餅的夾層中——有時候驢肉火燒在英語裏被譯成“驢肉漢堡”。

Donkey meat may also be made into soups and stews.

驢肉也可以做湯。

As the Chinese middle classes have grown richer, demand for donkey gelatin and other tonic delicacies has soared - in January the New York Times reported that a shortage of donkey gelatin had encouraged a boom in imitation products.

隨着中國中產階級生活水平的提高，驢膠和其他滋補品的需求猛增——今年1月《紐約時報》曾報道，因驢膠短缺，仿製品也開始大幅增加。