Attempt to Sell Rare Ants in Europe and Asia
Kenyan Court Imposes 1 Million Won Fine
Four individuals, including two teenagers, have been fined for attempting to illegally export thousands of ants from Kenya.
On May 8, according to reports from local daily newspaper Daily Nation and others, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) security court sentenced two Belgian teenage boys, one Vietnamese man, and one Kenyan man to fines of 1 million Kenyan shillings each (approximately 1 million won) for violating the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
The group was arrested on March 5 while in possession of over 5,400 ants, which they intended to smuggle for sale in European and Asian markets. The two teenagers had entered Kenya on tourist visas. At the time of their arrest, they were staying at a guesthouse in the western Kenyan city of Naivasha. Investigations revealed that they had packed the ants in more than 2,200 test tubes filled with cotton and in syringes, allowing the ants to survive for several months.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the ants they attempted to smuggle included the Mesor cephalotes, a native East African species. This is the largest ant species in Africa, growing up to 20mm, with queen ants reaching up to 25mm. KWS stated, "They attempted to smuggle the ants to sell them at high prices in the European and Asian markets, where demand for rare insect species is increasing." KWS also pointed out, "This constitutes not only a wildlife crime but also an act of biopiracy." The agency added, "There is a shift in smuggling trends toward ecologically important species instead of mammals." The value of the ants in their possession was reported to be about $9,200 (approximately 13 million won). According to the Associated Press, there has been a recent increase in people observing or keeping ants as pets. In Europe, there are several websites selling various species of ants.
The lawyer for the Belgian teenagers argued, "They did not know what they were doing was illegal and thought it was simply a fun activity," but the court did not accept this defense. According to local media, after the fines were imposed, all defendants pleaded guilty and waived their right to appeal. If they fail to pay the fines, they will face one year in prison.
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