Belgian teenagers in Kenya: 5000 ants smuggled for 600,000 euros!

Belgian teenagers in Kenya: 5000 ants smuggled for 600,000 euros!

Two Belgian teenagers, Lornoy D. and Seppe L., are currently in court in Kenya after being accused of smuggling 5,000 rare ants of the Art Messor Cephalotes. The market value of these animals, which is also known as Giant African Harvester Ant, is estimated at around 115 euros per queen, which results in a total of around 600,000 euros for the confiscated specimens. Investigators of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) discovered the ants at the beginning of April in a guest house in the Nakuru district, where they were stored in 2244 test tans that were padded with cotton wool to keep the animals alive for up to two months. The accused stated that they had "collected" for fun and were not aware of the illegal nature of their actions.

After a hearing on April 16 in Nairobi, the young people showed themselves disturbed by the situation. The judgment is expected for April 23, while the suspects remain in custody until then. Interestingly, further investigations could follow, since the case indicates a much larger smuggling network that deals with the illegal trade of ants.

illegal practices in wildlife trade

such as smartup-news.de, the Art Messor Cephalotes for the black market is of particular interest. Buyers of these ants are mainly in Europe, where the hobby of ants is experiencing a boom. However, the legal export of these ants is almost impossible, which makes illegal trade a serious violation of national laws and international agreements.

The KWS warns of the ecological consequences of illegal export. The ants play a central role in the ecosystem by loosening the floor, distributing seeds and acting as natural pest control. The loss of such species could not only endanger biological diversity, but also bring health risks with it, since illegal trade can be spread.

A trend change in wildlife trade

The tragedy behind the Ameis smuggling illustrates a growing trend in wildlife trade, which is increasingly shifted from great animals to less attention but ecologically significant species. The illegal trade in exotic animals, including Messor Cephalotes, has a variety of dangers, including the risk of zoonoses that can be transferred to humans, as highlighted in a report by Deutschlandfunk.de.

The authorities have already taken steps to counter illegal trade. However, there are challenges in the regulation of this market, since the demand for exotic pets is also high in Germany. Animal rights activists require more comprehensive trade bans and new regulations to not only protect biodiversity, but also to minimize health risks for humans and domestic animals.