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Line of marching black ants
There are many endangered animals that have earned that status due to people who’ve played a significant role in actively decimating their population for personal gain. Ants may not be the first species that springs to mind when it comes to being targeted, but a wildlife conservatory in England issued a call for help after a thief made off with a sizable haul.
One of the more compelling aspects of the internet is the ability to randomly stumble upon websites and communities comprised of people with a rabid fascination with certain hobbies and interests you wouldn’t think have the ability to trigger that level of passion until you encounter it yourself.
For example, you may be aware of the aspiring entomologists who oversee an ant farm in their spare time, but I feel like most people don’t know that particular pastime attracts some enthusiasts who are responsible for powering a surprisingly thriving black market fueled by people who’ve landed in jail after attempting to smuggle sought-after species across international borders.
I can’t personally speak to the motivations of someone who recently staged an ant heist in the United Kingdom, but they have managed to cause quite a stir after infiltrating a wildlife conservatory that’s turned to the public to help track them down.
Someone stole thousands of rare ants by digging up a nest at a nature reserve in England
The Devon Wildlife Trust has been devoted to preserving the natural beauty of that English county since it was established in 1961, and it’s supported by hundreds of employees and volunteers who help oversee the dozens of nature reserves it manages.
That includes the Chudleigh Knighton Heath, which the organization says serves as “the last stronghold of England’s rarest ant species,” the narrow-headed ant.
According to a press release that was issued on Monday, the area was home to 142 different nests that boast between 1,000 and 5,000 ants that serve a queen that can live for upwards of 25 years. However, that number has fallen by one, as the trust says they discovered a nest had gone missing while workers were conducting a survey in October and came across a plot that “showed clear signs of digging with a spade.”
Narrow-headed ants are among the “nationally rare and near threatened” species that have been protected since the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act was established in 2006, and violators can be sentenced to up to six months in jail along with being slapped with “unlimited fines.”
The trust notes the theft occurred as a “conservation effort has recently begun which specifically targets improvements to secure the future of Narrow-headed Ants locally” while saying the removal of a single nest can have a “catastrophic impact on the population.”
It does not appear there are any leads, but anyone with information that could help police track down to the culprit is being urged to come forward.