8.05.2025

"Belgian Teens Face Fines for Smuggling 5,000 Ants"

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Two Belgian teenagers found with 5,000 ants in Kenya were given a choice of paying a fine of $7,700 or serving 12 months in prison — the maximum penalty for the offense — for violating wildlife conservation laws

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — In a significant case reflecting an emerging trend in wildlife trafficking, two Belgian teenagers, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19 years old, were found in possession of 5,000 ants while staying at a guest house in Nakuru County, Kenya. The illegal collection of these insects resulted in their arrest on April 5, 2025, with formal charges brought against them on April 15, 2025. The teenagers faced a choice between a hefty fine of $7,700 or a 12-month prison sentence, which is the maximum penalty for violating wildlife conservation laws in Kenya.

During a court hearing at Kenya's main airport, Magistrate Njeri Thuku expressed concern over the nature of the teenagers' actions, noting that despite their claims of naiveté and viewing their ant collection as a simple hobby, they had amassed a substantial number of valuable ants. Specifically, the species in question included messor cephalotes, a large and distinctive red-colored harvester ant endemic to East Africa. The magistrate pointed out that the increasing demand for this species, particularly online, exemplifies a growing market for lesser-known wildlife species.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) emphasized that the illegal export of these ants not only infringes upon Kenya's rights regarding its biodiversity but also threatens local ecosystems and the potential ecological and economic benefits those species provide to communities and research institutions. Moreover, this incident has underscored a wider concern as authorities warn of a rising trend in trafficking lesser-known wildlife, a growing issue that experts are beginning to take seriously.

In a related case, two other individuals, including Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen, faced similar charges after being found with 400 ants. Both were fined $7,700 or offered the option of a year in prison. Nguyen testified that he was sent to collect ants and met with his contact, Dennis Ng'ang'a, at Kenya's main airport. Ng'ang'a, a Kenyan national, claimed ignorance of the legality surrounding the collection and sale of ants, noting that they are consumed locally.

Magistrate Thuku characterized their collaborative effort as part of a larger, more complicated scheme involving wildlife trafficking. Experts in entomology, such as Shadrack Muya from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, highlighted the ecological role of ants as essential agents for soil aeration, fertility, and seed dispersal. He warned that removing ants from their natural habitats could lead to significant ecological disruption and suggested that the ants’ chances of survival in a foreign environment would be slim without proper adaptations.

Muya stated, "Survival in the new environment will depend on the interventions that are likely to take place. Where it has been taken away, there is a likelihood of an ecological disaster that may happen due to that disturbance." The case has raised alarm among conservationists and experts about the implications of trafficking lesser-known wildlife species, urging stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to preserve biodiversity.

Overall, this situation reflects a critical intersection of wildlife conservation, illegal trafficking, and the importance of public awareness regarding the ecological ramifications of such acts. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of ecosystems and the potential consequences of exploiting natural resources for commercial gain.