Kenya Wildlife Service in hot water after an ant-smuggling bust highlights ongoing wildlife crime and enforcement gaps. KWS, Kenya’s state wildlife agency, oversees conservation under the Tourism & Wildlife ministry.
Kenyan authorities detained Chinese national Zhang Kequn and Kenyan Charles Mwangi for smuggling nearly 2,000 ants, linked to a broader organized network. The ants, protected under international treaties, were destined for European and Asian markets. Investigations reveal a shift in biopiracy from large mammals to lesser-known species.