Episode

Secrets of the ant trade

Podcast
The Documentary Podcast
Published
Jul 9, 2026
Duration seconds
1588
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nxmwn6
Audio
http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss-low/proto/http/vpid/p0nxmt5h.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-documentary-podcast-487670/episodes/secrets-of-the-ant-trade
Markdown
/podcast/the-documentary-podcast-487670/secrets-of-the-ant-trade.md

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Summary

Once a quiet hobby for enthusiasts, ant-keeping has exploded into a global, multi-million-dollar business driven by social media and a rising wave of "ant-influencers". Demand for exotic species is fuelling a boom in online trading forums, and a new front in wildlife trafficking. We go to Kenya, where law enforcement has made global headlines arresting gangs as they try to smuggle thousands of prized mated queens out of the country.