NAIROBI, Kenya — Two Belgian men were sentenced Wednesday by a Kenyan court to their choice of a $7,700 fine or one year in prison after they were allegedly caught attempting to smuggle valuable harvester ants, also known as queen ants.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19 years old, were arrested April 5 in Kenya for possessing more than 5,000 ants. The two pleaded guilty last month.
The two men were staying at a guest house in Nakuru County, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity and proximity to several national parks when they were arrested. Following their arrest, the two were charged with violating Kenya’s wildlife conservation laws, which are designed to protect the country’s unique flora and fauna.
On May 7, a magistrate in Nairobi ruled that the teenagers could either pay a fine of $7,700 or face a one-year prison sentence, the minimum penalty for their offense.
The ants in question were reportedly destined for markets in Europe and Asia, where exotic pets and unusual species have become increasingly popular. The specific species involved, messor cephalotes, is a large, red-colored harvester ant native to East Africa. This species is particularly valuable in the pet trade, and its illegal export raises significant concerns about the ecological impact on local ecosystems and the potential for ecological disasters.
During the court proceedings, Magistrate Njeri Thuku emphasized that the teenagers’ claims of naivety and their assertion that they were merely collecting the ants as a hobby did not mitigate the seriousness of their actions. The court noted that the sheer number of ants they possessed indicated a level of intent beyond casual collection. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) underscored the importance of these ants in their natural habitat, stating that their removal could disrupt local ecosystems, which rely on ants for soil aeration, seed dispersal, and overall ecological balance.
Experts have warned that the trafficking of lesser-known wildlife species, such as ants, is an emerging trend that poses a significant threat to biodiversity.
More on the Belgian men’s arrests for ant smuggling in Kenya.
