Two Belgian teenagers, both aged 19, have pleaded guilty to wildlife piracy after being caught with more than 5,000 smuggled ants in Kenya. Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijcky admitted the charges following a bust by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers at a guesthouse in early April.
The ants, including the species Messor cephalotes, were found in test tubes and syringes designed to keep them alive for weeks. KWS said the pair intended to sell them to exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia. David told authorities: 'We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity we did.'
The case has drawn attention to the growing global trade in ants as exotic pets. Queens of the red harvester ant species are sold by vendors such as Ants R Us for £99 per colony, prized for their complex colony-building behaviour. An anonymous ant vendor noted a rise in ant-keeping shows and competitive pricing.
Wildlife authorities warn this reflects a shift from trafficking large mammals to smaller, ecologically critical species. Scientists caution that the trade poses biodiversity risks. A 2023 study tracking ant trade in China concluded that many sought-after ants have high invasive potential if introduced outside their native ranges.
Entomologist Dino Martins highlighted the ecological role of harvester ants as seed dispersers and a food source for animals like aardvarks and pangolins. He expressed surprise that smugglers would target such species, given their importance to the savannah ecosystem.
The two teenagers remain in custody pending a pre-sentencing report due on 23 April. A separate case involving two men caught with 400 ants also emerged.
