Kenya jails Chinese national for a year for attempting to smuggle 2,000 ants
A Chinese man was jailed for a year on charges of smuggling termites.
A court in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, sentenced a Chinese national to one year in prison and a fine of one million Kenyan shillings for smuggling 2,000 ants.
The ant is a living “garden ant queen” and the Chinese national was apprehended during a security check at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Security personnel found a large shipment of live ants inside his luggage, which was intended for transport to China.
This type of ant is protected by international biodiversity agreements, and its trade is subject to strict controls.
Last year, the Kenya Wildlife Service warned of increasing demand for garden ants, scientifically known as Mysore cephalotis, in Europe and Asia, where some hobbyists keep them as pets.
Authorities emphasize the ecological importance of ants, noting that removing them from the ecosystem could disrupt soil health and biodiversity.
It is believed that the final destination of these creatures was the exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia.
