What in the World

Why would someone try to smuggle 5,000 ants?

Apr 30, 2025
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INSIGHT

Ants' High Value in Pet Trade

  • Smuggling 5,000 giant African harvester ants is linked to the exotic pet trade in Europe and Asia.
  • Each ant can fetch around $220, making them highly valuable to collectors and ant watchers.
INSIGHT

Ecological Role of Ants

  • Giant African harvester ants perform vital ecological roles like seed dispersal and soil aeration.
  • Removing them disrupts local ecosystems, affecting nutrient cycling and water infiltration.
INSIGHT

Shift to Smuggling Small Creatures

  • Wildlife trafficking is expanding from larger animals to smaller species like ants due to easier smuggling.
  • Authorities aim to address growing smuggling of micro-creatures that require less space and evade detection.
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