There's A Real Craze For Ants In Kenya

• 27.08.2026, 16:24

There is a thriving black market for these insects in the country.

In Kenya, the illegal trade in live ants—which collectors around the world keep as pets—is on the rise. African harvester ant queens are in particularly high demand—on the black market, their price can exceed $200, according to The Economist.

Earlier this year, Kenyan authorities discovered more than 2,200 ants hidden in a passenger’s luggage at Nairobi Airport. The insects were placed in small plastic tubes with damp cotton wool so they could survive the weeks-long journey. The intended recipients were collectors in China. The smuggler received a one-year prison sentence.
A year earlier, in a similar case, two teenagers from Belgium were detained for transporting about 5,000 ants.
The popularity of keeping insects has skyrocketed during the pandemic. Enthusiasts create transparent formicariums—a kind of “ant city”—where they observe the life of the colonies. Social media has turned this hobby into a global trend: for example, the YouTube channel AntsCanada has over 7 million subscribers.

Most of the trade is illegal, but demand for rare species outpaces supply. African harvester ants are particularly prized for their large size and complex social behavior.

“They are the tigers of the ant world,” says Kenyan entomologist Dino Martins.

Scientists warn that the mass capture of these insects could damage ecosystems. Smugglers primarily target queens: a single female lives for about 25 years and is capable of founding a colony of thousands of worker ants.

Ants disperse grass seeds, oxygenate the soil, and create nutrient-rich areas. In addition, they serve as food for many animals, including pangolins.

Kenyan authorities are stepping up inspections and pushing for harsher penalties. However, conservationists believe that confiscations are only the tip of the iceberg: as long as international demand continues to grow, smugglers will find new ways to export ants.