A Chinese man has been arrested in Kenya for allegedly trying to smuggle more than 2,000 queen ants out of the country.
According to a BBC report, the ants were found at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi during a security check.
Officials said many of the ants were packed in test tubes. Others were hidden inside tissue paper rolls in his luggage.
A People report said the suspect was identified as Zhang Kequn. Kenyan prosecutors asked the court for more time to investigate the case.
The ants are believed to be Messor cephalotes, also known as giant African harvester ants. An Associated Press report said the species is popular with insect collectors in Europe and Asia.
Kenyan wildlife officials believe the case may be linked to a larger smuggling network. They also warned that removing these ants from nature can harm soil health and biodiversity.
The case shows that wildlife trafficking is not only about big animals. Even small insects are now being sold in illegal exotic pet markets.
