A Chinese national and a local man were criminally charged over possession of live ants in the case that could further shine a spotlight on the trade in rare wildlife. The suspects appeared in a courtroom in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, charged with unlawfully dealing in wildlife species and conspiracy to commit a felony. They were identified as Zhang Kequn and Charles Mwangi. The suspects were first arrested on March 10 after authorities found them possessing 1,948 garden ants, stored in specialized tubes, and an additional 300 ants in tissue rolls. Prosecutors say the suspects did not have the necessary permits required under Kenya’s wildlife conservation laws to handle or trade in such species.
