Kenyan court slams $7,700 each or 12-month jail term on quartet trying to traffic ants
A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four men $7,700 each for attempting to traffic thousands of ants out of the country.
Wildlife experts said that this signals a shift in biopiracy from iconic animals such as elephants to lesser-known species.
Authorities arrested two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan national on April 5, accusing them of trying to smuggle roughly 5,440 giant African harvester ant queens.
Kenyan prosecutors valued 5,440 ants at around 1.2 million Kenyan shillings ($9,300).
However, retail prices in the UK suggested that the haul might fetch as much as $1 million if it reached European shores.
Ant keepers in Europe maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums to observe their cooperative behaviour.
Magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered the traffickers, who all pleaded guilty, to pay the fine or face 12 months in jail.
(Reuters/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Umahi hails Tinubu’s infrastructure projects, urges South-East support in 2027
He said no previous administration had matched Mr Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure development in South-East.
Africa
ECOWAS climate action stalled by poor funding, political will: Parliament
The Parliament wants ECOWAS leaders to consider a regional climate resilience and human security fund.
NationWide
Navy holds route march to boost combat readiness
The exercise, conducted through Egweama communities in Brass, aimed to enhance physical endurance, promote healthy living, and maintain a physically fit force.
Sport
Nigeria’s Stallions beat Ghana, fall to Morocco in Africa rugby men’s sevens
The Stallions opened their campaign with a 26-5 victory over Ghana’s Black Eagles but suffered a 36-5 defeat to Morocco in their second match of the competition.
Heading 4
APC reviews structures, declares readiness for 2027
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the review covered the party’s structures from the national, state, local government and ward levels to polling units.
Heading 1
Sultan, ex-Archbishop of Canterbury urge peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, beyond
“There is a need for a strong call on religious and faith communities to work towards checking all forms of hatred,” the Sultan said.
