VISAKHAPATNAM: The consumption of donkey meat is growing in popularity in several districts of Andhra Pradesh. Reports of donkey slaughter are coming in from West Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam and Guntur. But the donkey is not registered as a ‘food animal’. Consequently, the slaughter of such an animal is illegal according to Food Safety and Standards, 2011.
People who relish donkey meat claim that the flesh of the beast of burden increases strength and virility. Donkey meat eaters take considerable pain to find the meat from illegal traders and then buy it at hefty prices often running into the thousands.
According to a cross-section of officials, while donkey milk has been popular for years, the popularity of donkey meat is a fairly recent phenomenon.