Belgian Teenagers Plead Guilty to Trafficking 5,000 Queen Ants in Kenya

The case highlights a shift in wildlife trafficking toward smaller species, raising ecological and regulatory concerns.

David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, admitted to illegally trafficking queen ants for the exotic pet market.
Approximately 5,000 queen ants, valued at nearly £6,000, were seized during raids in Kenya's Naivasha region and Nairobi.
The teenagers, along with two accomplices—a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan—were part of an international network supplying collectors in Europe and Asia.
Conservationists warn that exporting native species like queen ants could lead to invasive populations threatening ecosystems.
This case signals a broader trend in wildlife trafficking, shifting focus from iconic mammals to smaller, ecologically vital species.