Two Belgian teenagers are facing charges of wildlife piracy after being caught with thousands of ants carefully packed in test tubes, part of what Kenyan authorities are calling a growing global trend of trafficking lesser-known, small-bodied species.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on April 5 while staying at a guest house where they were found with 5,000 live ants. The pair, visibly shaken during their appearance before a Nairobi magistrate, were reportedly comforted in the courtroom by relatives. They claimed they were simply collecting the ants “for fun,” and said they were unaware it was against the law.
In an unrelated but parallel case heard in the same courtroom, Kenyan national Dennis Ng’ang’a and Vietnamese citizen Duh Hung Nguyen were also arraigned, having been arrested with 400 ants in their possession.
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the four individuals were part of an illicit operation funneling ants to international markets in Europe and Asia. Among the trafficked insects were Messor cephalotes, a large, red-hued harvester ant species indigenous to East Africa and notable for its ecological significance.
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The KWS issued a statement condemning the illegal export of the ants, asserting that it “not only undermines Kenya’s sovereign rights over its biodiversity but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic benefits.”
Historically, Kenya has contended with the trafficking of parts from larger, high-profile wildlife such as elephants, rhinos, and pangolins. However, the latest string of prosecutions represents what authorities describe as “a shift in trafficking trends — from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species,” signaling new challenges in conservation enforcement.
The two Belgian suspects were apprehended in Nakuru County, an area known for its rich array of national parks. Authorities discovered the 5,000 ants meticulously housed in 2,244 test tubes lined with cotton wool, a makeshift habitat allowing the ants to survive for extended periods.
Meanwhile, Ng’ang’a and Nguyen were arrested separately in Nairobi, each found with 400 ants in their apartments. Investigators suspect both incidents are linked to broader networks of illicit insect trade.
Kenyan officials have estimated the total value of the seized ants at 1 million shillings (approximately $7,700), noting that market prices fluctuate depending on species rarity and demand.
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Philip Muruthi, vice president for conservation at the African Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi, emphasized the vital role ants play in maintaining ecosystem health. He noted their contribution to soil enrichment, seed dispersal, and serving as a food source for various bird species.
“The thing is, when you see a healthy forest, like Ngong forest, you don’t think about what is making it healthy. It is the relationships all the way from the bacteria to the ants to the bigger things,” he said.
Muruthi also cautioned that trafficking such species poses serious biosecurity risks, potentially exporting agricultural diseases to destination countries.
“Even if there is trade, it should be regulated and nobody should be taking our resources just like that,” he said.
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