In parts of Kenya, international ant collectors are targeting queen ants and selling them on a growing black market, fueled by hobbyists who keep colonies as pets. Experts suggest that prized species like the giant African harvester ant, which can fetch up to $220 per queen on the black market. Last year, approximately 5,000 live queen ants were discovered in a guesthouse, reportedly destined for buyers in Europe and Asia. This is not the first time this has been discovered, with another 2,000 queen ants hidden inside luggage at an airport. Authorities in Kenya are increasing enforcement and calling for greater global protections. Currently, ants are not covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.