Two Belgian teenagers were apprehended in Kenya for allegedly smuggling approximately 5,000 ants, including the valuable Messor cephalotes species. Authorities estimated the ants' worth at $7,000.
The incident underscores a shift in wildlife smuggling, moving beyond iconic animals towards smaller, easily concealed species like ants. The Kenyan Wildlife Service notes this trend reflects a change in focus from larger mammals to ecologically significant but less well-known creatures.
The high value placed on certain ant species reveals a lucrative, though often overlooked, aspect of the illegal wildlife trade.
Two Belgian teenagers were arrested in Kenya for suspected ant smuggling.
The pair were found in possession of 5,000 ants, including several Messor cephalotes, a large East African ant which can sell for tens or hundreds of dollars each: Authorities valued the haul at $7,000.
Wildlife smuggling is a major industry, but while most of the focus is on animals — such as tortoises, pangolins, or rhinos — or parts thereof, sold for pets or for use in traditional Chinese medicine, the Kenyan Wildlife Service said there is a growing trend away “from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species” such as ants, which also have the advantage of being significantly easier to smuggle than the African elephant.
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