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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