The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has set free over 5,000 live garden ants back into the wild. The insects were part of a court case exhibit where four individuals got busted for trafficking them. On May 7 were sentenced to a year in prison or a KES 1 million fine each.
The ants were on their way to the European and Asian exotic pet market, where apparently people are willing to shell out up to KES 176,000 per colony of the rare ants.
According to Paul Udoto, the Head of Corporate Communications at KWS, wildlife crime isn’t just about elephants and rhinos anymore, as traffickers are now targeting all sorts of less flashy but still super important species like insects, reptiles, and plants with medicinal properties.
Between 2020 and 2025, said Mr Udoto, KWS and their partners have managed to intercept a whole bunch of illegal wildlife products, including 5,140 queen ants, 22 tortoises, 5 snakes, a bee swarm, and even a praying mantis. He said the creatures are crucial for the local ecosystem as they help with soil health, pollination, pest control, and forest regeneration, and messing with them doesn’t just throw off Kenya’s natural balance – it also messes with long-term food security and community well-being.
He further revealed that during that period, 41 suspects have been nabbed for trying to sneak 73,925 kg of Aloe gum out of Kenya, and over 25,331 kg of sandalwood was seized in 34 operations, leading to 79 arrests. This stuff is like gold in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
This whole situation shines a light on the shady world of biopiracy, where outsiders exploit Kenya’s resources without a care for the locals.
Prof. Erustus Kanga, the KWS Director General, said they are teaming up with local and international partners to take down biopiracy criminal networks.
Prof Kanga revealed that KWS is integrating advanced technologies to fight traffickers. This includes deployment of micro-CT scanners at major ports of entry to detect concealed wildlife, establishment of DNA databases to trace species origin and support prosecutions. Other efforts are collaborations with Interpol, customs authorities, and conservation NGOs to dismantle transnational wildlife crime syndicates.
