Nairobi:
Two Belgian teens caught trafficking 5,000 ants in Kenya faced the option of paying a hefty fine of $7,700 or serving a year in prison, which is the minimum penalty for violations under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Officials highlighted that this issue reflects a troubling new trend in human trafficking involving lesser-known wildlife species, particularly targeting markets in Europe and Asia.
The arrested individuals, Lornoy David and Septe Rodewijjk, both 19, were taken into custody on April 5 at a guesthouse in Nakuru County, known for its national parks. They received their charges on April 15.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday at a major airport courthouse, Magistrate Njeri Thuku emphasized that despite the teenagers claiming they were simply collecting ants as a hobby, the specific species they gathered are quite valuable—indeed, not just valuable but precious.
The Kenya Wildlife Service pointed out that there is a growing involvement of teenagers in the illegal traffic of ants, particularly Messer Cephalot, a unique red harvester ant indigenous to East Africa.
“This is more than just a hobby. There’s clearly a lack of regard for the value of Messer Cephalot online,” Thuku noted during her ruling.
Harima Nyakinyua, the teenagers’ lawyer, stated that the verdict was “fair” and confirmed her client would not file an appeal.
“Since the law mandates a certain minimum, the court cannot go lower than that. Even if an appeal is made, it won’t change,” she remarked.
The Kenya Wildlife Service also shared that illegal exports not only infringe on Kenya’s rights regarding biodiversity but also strip local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic advantages.
In a related matter, two men also faced fines of $7,700 after being caught with 400 ants, with the same prison time as an option.
A Vietnamese national, Hang Nguyen, told the court he was tasked with collecting the ants and arrived at a major airport in Kenya to meet a contact named Dennis Naganya, with plans to meet locals for the sale of the ants.
Ng’ang’a, who is from Kenya, claimed he was unaware of the legal implications, noting that ants are commonly sold and consumed locally.
Thuku described the meeting between Ng’ang’a and Nguyen as part of a larger, more complicated scheme.
Experts in Kenya have recently cautioned about the emerging trends in trafficking lesser-known wildlife species.
Entomologist Shadrak Muya, a senior lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agricultural Technology, explained that garden ants are crucial for enriching soil and aiding in seed dispersal.
“Ants play a vital role in our environment, and their removal can lead to ecological issues,” he noted.
Muya expressed concerns over the extraction of ants from their habitats, suggesting they might struggle to thrive unless they are carefully adapted to new environments.
“Successful survival in unfamiliar settings requires interventions, and without such support, ecological disasters could ensue,” he warned.
