A Kenyan court has sentenced four men to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country.
This is a case described by conservation authorities as a “landmark” in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
The four men – two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan – were apprehended in Naivasha, a town in western Kenya popular with tourists for its animal parks and lakes. They were arrested last month at a guest house where authorities discovered 5,000 live ants in their possession.
The Belgian nationals, identified as Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both aged 19, were found with 5,000 ants. Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a were each found with 300 ants. They were charged under Kenyan wildlife laws that strictly regulate the collection, possession, and transportation of protected species.
During their court appearance, the four suspects pleaded guilty to the charges, stating that they were collecting the ants as a hobby and were unaware of the legal implications of their actions. However, the magistrate, in delivering the sentence on Wednesday, noted that the sheer volume of ants found in their possession and the specific species involved suggested a more organized operation than mere amateur collection.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which is primarily known for its efforts to protect large mammals such as elephants and lions, said this case highlights a worrying shift in trafficking trends towards lesser-known but ecologically vital species. KWS officials revealed that the ants involved included giant African harvester ants, a species that is increasingly targeted by exotic pet traders in Europe and Asia, where they can fetch prices as high as £170 ($220) per ant.
“This case demonstrates the disturbing shift from trafficking iconic animals to targeting insects and other small species that play critical roles in maintaining biodiversity,” KWS said in a statement released following the sentencing.
The Belgian teenagers had reportedly entered Kenya on tourist visas, intending to visit Naivasha’s popular animal parks and lakes. Instead, they became involved in what authorities suspect is a growing trade in rare insects. Wildlife experts warn that the rising demand for exotic insect species is creating new threats to biodiversity, as poachers and traffickers increasingly target lesser-known but economically valuable creatures.
Kenyan law classifies the collection and trade of protected insect species as a serious offence, especially when the species involved are covered under international biodiversity treaties. The KWS has vowed to step up surveillance and enforcement to curb the growing trade in rare insects and other small species, which they warn could have significant ecological consequences.
The four convicts were given the option of paying the $7,700 fine to avoid serving the one-year prison term. As of the time of sentencing, their legal representatives had not indicated whether they intended to pay the fines or serve the custodial sentences.
Source: Africafeeds.com
