A Kenyan court has sentenced four individuals—including two Belgian teenagers—to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 each after they were caught attempting to smuggle thousands of rare queen ants out of the country in a case highlighting the rising global demand for lesser-known wildlife species.
Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on April 5 in Nakuru County after authorities discovered approximately 5,000 live queen ants in their possession at a local guesthouse. Nakuru, known for its rich biodiversity and proximity to major national parks, has recently emerged as a hotspot for wildlife-related offenses due to its unique endemic species.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that the ants included rare red-colored harvester ants, a large and ecologically significant species native to East Africa. These insects are increasingly sought after by exotic pet collectors and entomology hobbyists, particularly in Europe and Asia, where online marketplaces have made trade in live insects more accessible.
During court proceedings, the Belgian teenagers admitted to collecting the ants as a hobby and claimed ignorance of Kenyan wildlife laws. However, Senior Resident Magistrate Njeri Thuku ruled that their possession of such a large quantity of a valuable species could not be excused by their claim of naivety. “They had thousands, not a few. The law must treat this with the seriousness it deserves,” she stated. Their lawyer, Halima Nyakinyua, said the sentence was “fair,” acknowledging that under Kenyan law, the prescribed minimum fine could not be reduced. “Even if we appealed, the law sets that threshold. We accept the outcome,” she told reporters.
In a related case, the same court handed identical sentences to Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a, who were caught with 400 ants. Nguyen told the court he had been sent to collect the insects, while Ng’ang’a claimed he was unaware of the illegality, saying ants are commonly sold and consumed locally.
The Kenya Wildlife Service issued a strong statement following the rulings, warning that such trafficking cases undermine national conservation efforts. “Illegal export of native species not only violates Kenya’s sovereign rights over its biodiversity, but also robs local communities and scientific institutions of potential ecological and economic value,” KWS said. Conservationists have noted a surge in interest in non-charismatic microfauna, such as insects and arachnids, which are less protected under international wildlife trade laws compared to larger animals. Authorities have pledged to step up surveillance and public education to stem the trend before it escalates further.
