Two Belgian teenagers have been swept into the centre of Kenya’s escalating campaign against wildlife trafficking after being caught with 5,000 live ants, a violation that earned them a $7,700 fine or a 12-month jail term.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on 5 April at a guest house in Nakuru County, an ecologically rich area. Their sentencing on 7 May at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Law Courts spotlighted the rising black-market trade in obscure species such as messor cephalotes—a rare, crimson-hued harvester ant native to East Africa.
The court rejected their defence that the collection was a mere hobby, with Magistrate Njeri Thuku asserting the volume and rarity of the ants clearly suggested commercial intent.
Kenyan authorities have warned of an emerging trend in wildlife crime, with traffickers shifting focus from iconic species like elephants to lesser-known creatures including insects and reptiles. The Kenya Wildlife Service condemned the illegal export, highlighting its detrimental impact on national sovereignty, scientific research, and the livelihoods of local communities. In a related case, Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a were fined the same amount after being caught with 400 ants, which prosecutors described as part of an “elaborate scheme.” Despite Ng’ang’a’s claim that ants are traded locally and thus assumed legal, the court maintained that ignorance was no defence.
Environmental scientists have raised serious concerns about the ecological ramifications. Dr. Shadrack Muya, an entomologist at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, underscored the vital environmental role of ants in soil aeration, seed dispersal, and biodiversity support. Their removal, he warned, could lead to long-term ecological disruption. Kenyan authorities recently showcased live queen ants seized at the airport, a symbolic move reflecting the urgency of the issue. As the global demand for exotic species surges, conservationists are urging enhanced cross-border enforcement and public education to prevent further damage to fragile ecosystems.