Kenya’s new poaching problem: smuggling Giant Harvester Ants
Kenya is facing a new poaching issue involving the smuggling of Giant Harvester Ants. Thousands of queen ants are being harvested and sold internationally, leading to concerns over bio-piracy and ecological impact. Authorities are responding with stricter penalties for traffickers as the trade continues to grow.
- ▪Kenyan ant expert Dino Martins has been studying Giant Harvester Ants for 40 years.
- ▪The smuggling trade was highlighted when two Belgian teenagers were arrested with nearly 5,000 queen ants.
- ▪A Chinese national was sentenced to one year in prison for attempting to traffic 2,000 ants.
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Kenya’s new poaching problem: smuggling Giant Harvester AntsSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxGiant Harvester Ants are common from the Mediterranean to the Cape.PHOTO: AFPPublished May 18, 2026, 02:35 PMUpdated May 18, 2026, 02:35 PMNAIROBI - Kenyan ant expert Dino Martins gushes over the red and black insects that have become the centre of an international smuggling trade.He has been visiting the network of nests of these Giant African Harvester Ants outside Nairobi for 40 years.“They’re big and bold...
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.