Belgian Teens Charged with Wildlife Piracy for Trafficking 5,000 Ants in Kenya

Two Belgian teenagers, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, have been charged with wildlife piracy in Kenya after being found with 5,000 ants packed in test tubes, intended for export to Europe and Asia. Arrested on April 5, the pair claimed they were collecting the ants for fun and were unaware of the legality surrounding their actions. Alongside them, two other individuals—a Kenyan and a Vietnamese national—were also charged with trafficking 400 ants. The Kenya Wildlife Service highlighted this case as indicative of a troubling trend in wildlife trafficking, shifting focus from large mammals to smaller yet ecologically significant species. Authorities stressed that the illegal export of such species undermines Kenya's biodiversity and deprives local communities of ecological benefits. The case has been adjourned pending further investigation into the trafficking operation, which KWS described as premeditated.