A Kenyan court has sentenced a Chinese national to 12 months in jail and fined him 1 million shillings ($7,746) for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country, as authorities warn of a growing trend in wildlife trafficking.
Magistrate Irene Gichobi said the punishment needed to serve as a deterrent, citing a rise in cases involving the illegal trade of ants and the ecological risks linked to large-scale harvesting.
Chinese national Zhang Kequn was arrested last month at Nairobi’s main international airport after authorities discovered more than 2,200 live garden ants concealed in his luggage.
The case highlights a niche but lucrative market, particularly in Asia, where collectors pay significant sums to maintain ant colonies in specialised glass enclosures known as formicariums. Enthusiasts use these setups to observe the insects’ complex social structures and behaviour.
Zhang initially pleaded not guilty to charges including dealing in live wildlife species, but later changed his plea to guilty. His lawyer said he would appeal the sentence.
In a related case, Kenyan national Charles Mwangi has been charged with supplying the ants. He has pleaded not guilty and remains free on bail, with his case still pending before the court.
Wildlife experts say such cases point to a broader shift in biopiracy, moving away from high-profile items like elephant ivory toward lesser-known but commercially valuable species.
Last year, four men were each fined 1 million shillings after being caught attempting to traffic thousands of ants, underscoring the growing scale of the trade.