by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG – AN academic said the smuggling of ants out of Africa marks another troubling shift in the world of wildlife crime.
Prof Henk Bouwman, from the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at North-West University (NWU) in South Africa, said such trafficking posed a significant threat to local ecosystems unprepared for the arrival of foreign species.
“Smuggling ants is a serious issue. Moving any animal to a region where it does not naturally occur is risky,” Bouwman said.
The expert pointed out there are between 12 000 and 15 000 known species, with estimates suggesting the real number could be more than double that.
“They thrive in almost every habitat, from deep underground to the top of rainforest canopies,” he explained.
Rainforest ants, for instance, have evolved such precise adaptations that if they fall from a tree, they can steer themselves back to the trunk, avoiding a long and potentially deadly descent, Bouwman continued.
He added this level of specialisation made them incredibly successful in their native environments, but it could also make them devastating invaders.
“When introduced to regions without natural predators or competing species, they can wreak havoc on local ecosystems and even economies,” Bouwman added.
In April, Kenyan authorities intercepted two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese national, and a local accomplice as they allegedly attempted to smuggle 5 400 live queen ants out of the country.
The Kenya Wildlife Service estimated the collection’s local value at approximately Sh1,2 million (US$9 315), though European collectors might have paid as much as US$1 million the entire haul – a clear indication that the ant trade is becoming a lucrative target for smugglers.
As traditional smuggling targets like elephants and rhinos come under increased protection, traffickers are turning their attention to smaller, less conspicuous species.
