Kenya's Ant Smuggling Racket: Why One Tiny Insect Sells for Rs 20,000

New Delhi: The agricultural landscape of Gilgil, has become the unexpected stage for an international wildlife trafficking investigation. Thousands of ants can be seen emerging from the mounds in and around Gilgil, a quiet agricultural town in Kenya's Rift Valley. Furthermore, ants are facing a crisis. Gilgil has become a hub for the illegal ant trade. 

Are ants really smuggled?

Recent court filings has revealed a operation involving the illegal extraction of thousands of live ants, exposing a disturbing trend in the smuggling of biodiversity from the African continent.

Ants selling for Rs 20,000?

A single ant is being priced at up to Rs 20,000. The Giant African Harvester Ant is the most sought-after ant among smugglers. They are large and red in colour. 

Harvester ants are critical engineers of the environment. By foraging, aerating the soil, and dispersing seeds, they maintain the health of the very ecosystems from which they are being stripped. Their large-scale removal disrupts soil nutrient cycles, potentially leading to long-term degradation of land quality in areas like Gilgil.

This black market operates primarily online. A single queen ant can cost up to £170 ($220, or approximately Rs 18,500). A single queen ant is capable of founding an entire colony and can live for decades. They are also easier to send by post because scanners often cannot detect organic material.

Ant smuggling?

According to a media reports, a man, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he once worked as a broker, connecting foreign buyers with local networks. 

"Initially, I didn't even know it was illegal," he said. 

These ants are scientifically called Messor cephalotes. They are native to East Africa and are known for their unique seed-gathering behaviour, making them very popular among ant collectors. 

"A friend told me that a foreigner was paying good money for these queen ants. They are large, red, and easily visible," the former broker said.

Is ant smuggling a new challenge?

The scale of this illegal trade in Kenya came to light last year when 5,000 giant harvester queen ants, seized from around Gilgil, were found alive in a guesthouse in Naivasha, a lakeside town popular with tourists. 

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the suspects, from Belgium, Vietnam, and Kenya, had filled test tubes and syringes with moistened cotton wool, allowing each ant to survive for two months. They planned to transport the ants to Europe and Asia and sell them. 

While the East African country is accustomed to dealing with high-profile wildlife crimes like ivory and rhino horn, ant trafficking has emerged as a new challenge.