Belgian Teens Fined for Ant Trafficking Scandal

Two Belgian teenagers have been handed a hefty fine of $7,700 or alternatively, a 12-month prison sentence, after being found with 5,000 ants in their possession in Kenya. The teens, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both aged 19, faced charges of violating wildlife conservation laws.

The pair were caught with the ants, which were reportedly meant for European and Asian markets, signaling a burgeoning trade in trafficking lesser-known species. Addressing the court, Magistrate Njeri Thuku noted that despite their claims of collecting as a hobby, the quantity and specific species, such as messor cephalotes, indicated otherwise.

The Kenya Wildlife Service emphasized that the illegal exportation of these ants from the region impinges on Kenya's biodiversity rights and deprives local communities of ecological and economic advantages, raising concerns over wildlife preservation efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)