Latest news with #Messorcephalotes
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officers stunned after uncovering bizarre smuggling operation led by two teenagers: 'Landmark case in the field'
Authorities found 5,000 smuggled ants that two Belgian teenagers planned to ship overseas to exotic pet markets. In early April, Kenya Wildlife Service officers uncovered the ants in a guesthouse in the western part of the country. According to the Guardian, two Belgian teenagers, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, intended to ship the ants to Europe and Asia. Pet ants are growing in popularity. An anonymous online ant vendor spoke to the Guardian, saying, "In today's world … many are disconnected from themselves and their environment. Watching ants in a formicarium can be surprisingly therapeutic." The seized ants were mostly Messor cephalotes, a large red harvester species from East Africa. Ants R Us, a site that sells to ant collectors, prices Messor cephalotes at around $265 per colony. David said, "We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity, we did." The two teens likely don't realize how dangerous an invasive ant species is to an ecosystem. A 2023 paper on the ant trade, published in the journal Biological Conservation, explained that "the most sought-after ants have higher invasive potential." Invasive species topple ecosystems. They push out native creatures, deplete resources, and alter habitats. This reduces biodiversity, threatening food and water security, climate stability, and disease control. Removing species from their natural habitat also disrupts those ecosystems. Every living being, from bacteria to apex predators, plays a vital role, and ants are especially important. Dino Martins, an entomologist and evolutionary biologist in Kenya, told the Guardian that harvest ants are a crucial insect. On the African savannah, they support plant germination, contribute to soil nutrients, and create food sources for other animals. Taking them from their natural habitat could cripple these environments, and introducing them elsewhere can harm ecosystems. In short, the illegal ant market is a recipe for global disaster. Do you think we still have a lot to learn from ancient cultures? Definitely Only on certain topics I'm not sure No — not really Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Authorities are trying to stop illegal ant trading and smuggling before it becomes more severe. But this case shows how it's growing. The anonymous ant seller called this a "landmark case in the field," and noted that, "people traveling to other countries specifically to collect ants and then returning with them is virtually unheard of." In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a message urging ant keepers to be responsible and cautious. The message said, "Although ant keeping is an exciting hobby, ant keepers must understand the risks." People should thoroughly research ant vendors and species before purchasing, and take extra care to prevent exotic ants from being released into nature. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- IOL News
Rare-ant smugglers sentenced in African state
Two Belgians, a Vietnamese, and a Kenyan have pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking and await sentencing on April 23 in Kenya Image: Kenya Wildlife Services A Kenyan court has sentenced four individuals to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 each for attempting to illegally export thousands of live ants, including a rare species, the BBC reported. The convicted individuals, two Belgian nationals, one Vietnamese, and a Kenyan, were apprehended last month in Naivasha, a town in western Kenya, where they were found in possession of approximately 5,000 queen ants. Among the species collected was Messor cephalotes, a rare variety also referred to as the Giant African Harvester Ant. During the court proceedings, the accused pleaded guilty and claimed they were unaware that collecting the ants for hobbyist purposes was a criminal offense. However, the presiding judge noted in Wednesday's ruling that the quantity and type of ants involved indicated a deliberate effort to exploit valuable wildlife, adding that the offenders were not simply in possession of a few specimens. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the seized ants were reportedly intended for exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia. The smuggled ants, according to dealers in the UK, can be worth as much as £170 ($220) apiece. Commenting on the insects' popularity, Pat Stanchev, the general manager of the insect-trading website Best Ants UK, told the BBC that their appeal lies in their distinctive and beautiful appearance. KWS revealed that the suspects had prepared test tubes capable of sustaining the ants for up to two months, specifically to bypass airport screening procedures. The organization described the operation as 'premeditated' and called it a landmark in trafficking trends that shift from traditional poaching of large mammals toward lesser-known species. One of the Belgian nationals, David Lornoy, told Reuters that the group had not intended to violate any laws. 'We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity we did,' he said, appealing for leniency. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Kenya court fines teens for trying to smuggle protected ants
A Kenyan court has fined four people, including two Belgian teenagers, more than $7,000 (€6,163) for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country. The case has received considerable attention after the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) accused the four of engaging in "bio-piracy". David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 18 of Belgium, Duh Hung Nguyen of Vietnam and Dennis Nganga of Kenya, all pleaded guilty to possession of the ants, but denied seeking to traffic them. Lornoy and Lodewijckx were arrested in possession of 5,000 queen ants packed in 2,244 tubes in Nakuru County, around 160km from the capital Nairobi. Duh and Nganga were found with ants stored in 140 syringes packed with cotton wool and two containers, according to a charge sheet. The two cases were separate but all four were tried together. Lornoy was described as an "ant enthusiast" who kept colonies at home in Belgium and was member of a Facebook group called "Ants and Ant Keeping", according to the sentencing report. He told investigators he was not aware that transporting the ants was illegal. Police had put the value of the ants taken by the Belgians at one million shillings ($7,740). The haul included the rare Messor cephalotes species, a single queen ant of which currently sells for at least $99, according to the court report. Possession of any wildlife specimen or trophy without a permit is a criminal offence in Kenya, with suspects normally subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and five years or more in prison. The court ultimately sentenced all four to a fine of one million shillings ($7,740), or a year in prison if they failed to pay. The court said Lornoy and Seppe "do not come across as typical poachers" and were ignorant of the law. But it said the case reflected a script "that has been played out before in centuries gone by... of Africa having resources that are plundered by the West and now the East". The KWS said their action was not only a "wildlife crime but also constitutes bio-piracy". The suspects "intended to smuggle the ants to high-value exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia, where demand for rare insect species is rising", it said in a statement.
France 24
07-05-2025
- France 24
Kenya court fines ant smugglers for 'bio-piracy'
The case has received considerable attention after the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) accused the four of engaging in "bio-piracy". David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 18 of Belgium, Duh Hung Nguyen of Vietnam and Dennis Nganga of Kenya all pleaded guilty to possession of the ants, but denied seeking to traffic them. Lornoy and Lodewijckx were arrested in possession of 5,000 queen ants packed in 2,244 tubes in Nakuru County, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the capital Nairobi. Duh and Nganga were found with ants stored in 140 syringes packed with cotton wool and two containers, according to a charge sheet seen by AFP. The two cases were separate but all four were tried together. Lornoy was described as an "ant enthusiast" who kept colonies at home in Belgium and was member of a Facebook group called "Ants and Ant Keeping", according to the sentencing report. He told investigators he was not aware that transporting the ants was illegal. Police had put the value of the ants taken by the Belgians at one million shillings ($7,740). The haul included the rare Messor cephalotes species, a single queen ant of which currently sells for at least $99, according to the court report. Possession of any wildlife specimen or trophy without a permit is a criminal offence in Kenya, with suspects normally subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and five years or more in prison. The court ultimately sentenced all four to a fine of one million shillings ($7,740), or a year in prison if they failed to pay. The court said Lornoy and Seppe "do not come across as typical poachers" and were ignorant of the law. But it said the case reflected a script "that has been played out before in centuries gone by... of Africa having resources that are plundered by the West and now the East". The KWS said their action was not only a "wildlife crime but also constitutes bio-piracy".
The Guardian
24-04-2025
- The Guardian
Two teens and 5,000 ants: how a smuggling bust shed new light on a booming trade
Poaching busts are familiar territory for the officers of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), an armed force tasked with protecting the country's iconic creatures. But what awaited guards when they descended in early April on a guesthouse in the west of the country was both larger and smaller in scale than the smuggling operations they typically encounter. There were more than 5,000 smuggled animals, caged in their own enclosures. Each one, however, was about the size of a little fingernail: 18-25mm. The cargo, which two Belgian teenagers had apparently intended to ship to exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia, was ants. Their enclosures were a mixture of test tubes and syringes containing cotton wool – environments that authorities say would keep the insects alive for weeks. 'We did not come here to break any laws. By accident and stupidity we did,' says Lornoy David, one of the Belgian smugglers. David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19 years old, pleaded guilty after being charged last week with wildlife piracy, alongside two other men in a separate case who were caught smuggling 400 ants. The cases have shed new light on booming global ant trade – and what authorities say is a growing trend of trafficking 'less conspicuous' creatures. These crimes represent 'a shift in trafficking trends – from iconic large mammals to lesser-known yet ecologically critical species', says a KWS statement. The unusual case has also trained a spotlight on the niche world of ant-keeping and collecting – a hobby that has boomed over the past decade. The seized species include Messor cephalotes, a large red harvester ant native to east Africa. Queens of the species grow to about 20-24mm long, and the ant sales website Ants R Us describes them as 'many people's dream species', selling them for £99 per colony. The ants are prized by collectors for their unique behaviours and complex colony-building skills, 'traits that make them popular in exotic pet circles, where they are kept in specialised habitats known as formicariums', KWS says. One online ant vendor, who asked not to be named, says the market is thriving, and there has been a growth in ant-keeping shows, where enthusiasts meet to compare housing and species details. 'Sales volumes have grown almost every year. There are more ant vendors than before, and prices have become more competitive,' he says. 'In today's world, where most people live fast-paced, tech-driven lives, many are disconnected from themselves and their environment. Watching ants in a formicarium can be surprisingly therapeutic,' he says. David and Lodewijckx will remain in custody until the court considers a pre-sentencing report on 23 April. The ant seller says theirs is a 'landmark case in the field'. 'People travelling to other countries specifically to collect ants and then returning with them is virtually unheard of,' he says. Scientists have raised concerns that the burgeoning trade in exotic ants could pose a significant biodiversity risk. 'Ants are traded as pets across the globe, but if introduced outside of their native ranges they could become invasive with dire environmental and economic consequences,' researchers conclude in a 2023 paper tracking the ant trade across China. 'The most sought-after ants have higher invasive potential,' they write. Removing ants from their ecosystems could also be damaging. Illegal exportation 'not only undermines Kenya's sovereign rights over its biodiversity but also deprives local communities and research institutions of potential ecological and economic benefits', says KWS. Dino Martins, an entomologist and evolutionary biologist in Kenya, says harvester ants are among the most important insects on the African savannah, and any trade in them is bound to have negative consequences for the ecology of the grasslands. 'Harvester ants are seed collectors, and they gather [the seeds] as food for themselves, storing these in their nests. A single large harvester ant colony can collect several kilos of seeds of various grasses a year. In the process of collecting grass seeds, the ants 'drop' a number … dispersing them through the grasslands,' says Martins. The insects also serve as food for various other species including aardvarks, pangolins and aardwolves. Martins says he is surprised to see that smugglers feeding the global 'pet' trade are training their sights on Kenya, since 'ants are among the most common and widespread of insects'. 'Insect trade can actually be done more sustainably, through controlled rearing of the insects. This can support livelihoods in rural communities such as the Kipepeo Project which rears butterflies in Kenya,' he says. Locally, the main threats to ants come not from the illegal trade but poisoning from pesticides, habitat destruction and invasive species, says Martins. Philip Muruthi, a vice-president for conservation at the African Wildlife Foundation in Nairobi, says ants enrich soils, enabling germination and providing food for other species. 'When you see a healthy forest … you don't think about what is making it healthy. It is the relationships all the way from the bacteria to the ants to the bigger things,' he says.
