- Two Belgian teenagers were arrested with over 5,000 ants stored in test tubes at a guest house in Nakuru.
- They claimed they were collecting the insects for fun, unaware it was against Kenyan law.
- Two more suspects, a Kenyan and a Vietnamese national, were also caught with 400 ants in Nairobi.
- Authorities believe all four were part of a growing underground trade targeting lesser-known species.
- The ants, native to East Africa, were valued at Ksh 1 million and were likely intended for markets in Europe and Asia.
Two 19-year-old Belgian nationals, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, are facing wildlife piracy charges after being caught with a massive stash of 5,000 ants. The insects were discovered on April 5 in a Nakuru guest house, packed into 2,244 small test tubes lined with cotton wool to keep them alive for extended periods.
During their court appearance in Nairobi, the teens appeared overwhelmed and were seen being comforted by relatives. They told the magistrate they had no idea they were breaking any laws, insisting they had collected the ants “for fun.”
More Suspects Linked to Ant Trafficking
In a separate case before the same court, Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a and Vietnamese Duh Hung Nguyen were also charged after they were caught with 400 ants stored inside their apartments in Nairobi.
Authorities suspect the four were involved in smuggling the insects to buyers overseas, mainly in Europe and Asia, where specific ant species fetch high prices in the exotic pet and research markets.
The Ants Behind the Operation
The insects in question include the messor cephalotes — a striking red harvester ant native to East Africa. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed the species plays a vital role in the ecosystem, especially in soil health, germination, and biodiversity support.
“This illegal trade deprives local communities and institutions of critical ecological and economic benefits,” KWS stated.
The agency emphasized that these arrests highlight a disturbing shift in trafficking trends—from well-known wildlife like elephants and rhinos to smaller but ecologically significant species such as ants.
Why These Tiny Insects Matter
Philip Muruthi, a conservation expert from the Africa Wildlife Foundation, noted that while ants may seem insignificant, they’re foundational to the survival of healthy forests.
“You look at a thriving forest like Ngong and forget the silent work being done by ants, bacteria, and other small organisms,” Muruthi explained.
He also raised a red flag over the biosecurity risks of exporting live insects, warning that diseases and foreign species could threaten farming systems in destination countries.
Call for Tighter Regulation
Kenyan conservationists are urging for stricter enforcement and regulation of invertebrate exports, warning that even “invisible” wildlife is under threat.
“If there’s to be trade, it must be controlled. Our biodiversity can’t just be taken freely,” said Muruthi.
With the ants valued at over Ksh 1 million, the cases signal the emergence of a black market for wildlife that is often overlooked—and now gaining attention on the global stage.
