Two 19-year-old Belgian nationals, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, have been charged with wildlife trafficking in Kenya after being found with approximately 5,000 live ants stored in thousands of test tubes.
The teenagers, who appeared distressed during a court hearing in Nairobi, claimed their intentions were harmless, insisting they were collecting the insects “for fun” and were unaware of any legal violations.
However, Kenyan authorities say the incident is part of a growing trend in illegal wildlife trade. On the same day, a Kenyan citizen and a Vietnamese national were separately charged with similar offences involving ant smuggling.
Officials allege all suspects were targeting the East African red ant species, Messor cephalotes, with the intent to sell them on black markets in Europe and Asia. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has estimated the value of the seized ants to exceed 1 million Kenyan shillings (around $7,700 USD).
The Belgian pair were detained in Nakuru County, near key wildlife reserves, where police discovered the ants hidden in a guesthouse.
ALSO READ: Another Coup Plot Thwarted in Burkina Faso, Officials Blame Foreign Involvement
Meanwhile, the other two suspects were apprehended in Nairobi, where additional ants were found stored in over 2,200 cotton-lined test tube containers specifically designed to preserve the insects during transport.
KWS has raised concerns about a shifting pattern in wildlife trafficking. While Kenya has long focused on preventing the poaching of elephants and rhinos, authorities are now grappling with the illegal trade of less conspicuous but equally vital species.
“We are witnessing a move away from large, charismatic animals to smaller species that play critical roles in the ecosystem,” KWS noted in an official statement.
Dr Philip Muruthi of the African Wildlife Foundation echoed these concerns, warning of the broader ecological risks. “Ants are integral to healthy ecosystems,” he said. “This kind of unregulated trade not only undermines biodiversity but also increases the risk of introducing invasive species and foreign pathogens. Our natural heritage isn’t for exploitation.”
