Apparently, they are very sought after. A Chinese man and his Kenyan accomplice have been charged with illegal wildlife trafficking. Because? For the smuggling of 2,000 queen ants. They were surprised at the Nairobi airport. Zhang Kequn had the large shipment of ants in his luggage, each one hidden in a test tube or wrapped in paper. He had bought the ants from Charles Mwangi. He paid US$77 for each hundred.
Kenyan authorities have been warning about the growing demand for garden ants in Europe and Asia. Collectors raise them as pets. The luggage was destined for China. The two men were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. Mwangi faces a second charge of illegal trafficking. Before they found it with more live ants.
Protected species
Ants are protected by international treaties on biodiversity. Its trade is strictly regulated. There is a growing demand for garden ants —Messor cephalotes— in Europe and Asia. "1,948 garden ants packaged in special test tubes were found in his personal luggage." Prosecutor Allen Mulama declared this in court. "Another 300 live ants were recovered hidden in three rolls of toilet paper inside the luggage."
The prosecutor asked the court to allow forensic examination of the suspect's electronic devices, such as his cell phone and personal computer. The smuggling of 2,000 queen ants is not the first of its kind. Last May, a Kenyan court sentenced four men to one year in prison. They tried to take thousands of live queen ants out of the country, in an unprecedented case. The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan – pleaded guilty.
Ecological importance
The Belgians told the court that they collected the coveted ants as a hobby and did not believe it was illegal. It is common for animal protection to deal with larger animals, such as lions and elephants. In this case, last year's ruling is considered a "landmark case."
The ants seized last year were giant African harvester ants. They are important from an ecological point of view, since their removal from the ecosystem could alter soil health and biodiversity. The intended destination is believed to have been the exotic pet markets of Europe and Asia.
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