Ant smuggling is on the rise, just like wildlife smuggling around the world. Smugglers are particularly targeting queen ants. Airport officials have caught hundreds of ants being smuggled in packets, test tubes and bottles. The price of a queen ant in the market is up to Rs. 21,000. Ant-keeping is apparently being carried out in China, Europe and the US as a hobby and for research. However, biologists are concerned that this poses a threat to the environment and could also carry new diseases.