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| Kenyan court sentences ant smugglers to $7,700 fine or one-year in prison | Kenyan court sentences ant smugglers to $7,700 fine or one-year in prison |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan - had pleaded guilty | The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan - had pleaded guilty |
| A Kenyan court has sentenced four men to one year in prison or pay a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country. | A Kenyan court has sentenced four men to one year in prison or pay a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country. |
| The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan – were arrested last month with live ants suspected to have been destined for collectors in Europe and Asia. | The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan – were arrested last month with live ants suspected to have been destined for collectors in Europe and Asia. |
| They had pleaded guilty to the charges, with the Belgians telling the court that they were collecting the highly sought-after ants as a hobby and didn't think it was illegal. | They had pleaded guilty to the charges, with the Belgians telling the court that they were collecting the highly sought-after ants as a hobby and didn't think it was illegal. |
| But delivering the sentence on Wednesday, the judge said the particular species of ants collected was valuable and they had thousands of them — not just a few. | But delivering the sentence on Wednesday, the judge said the particular species of ants collected was valuable and they had thousands of them — not just a few. |
| "While collecting a few ants might be considered a hobby, being found with 5,000 queen ants is beyond a hobby," said Magistrate Njeri Thuku. | |
| "Already the world has lost a number of species due in part to greed. It is time to stem this tide." | |
| She added: "This court will do what it can to protect all creatures great and small." | |
| The contraband included giant African harvester ants, which are valued by some UK dealers at up to £170 ($220) each. | The contraband included giant African harvester ants, which are valued by some UK dealers at up to £170 ($220) each. |
| Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen and Kenyan Dennis Ng'ang'a, were handed similar terms after the magistrate considered their mitigation arguments. | Belgian nationals Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen and Kenyan Dennis Ng'ang'a, were handed similar terms after the magistrate considered their mitigation arguments. |
| The Belgians were found with 5,000 ants while the other two were found with more than 300 ants in their apartments. | The Belgians were found with 5,000 ants while the other two were found with more than 300 ants in their apartments. |
| The ants were packed in more than 2,000 test tubes filled with cotton wool to help them survive for months, authorities said. | The ants were packed in more than 2,000 test tubes filled with cotton wool to help them survive for months, authorities said. |
| The Belgian teens had entered Kenya on a tourist visa and were staying in Naivasha, a town popular with tourists for its animal parks and lakes. | The Belgian teens had entered Kenya on a tourist visa and were staying in Naivasha, a town popular with tourists for its animal parks and lakes. |
| Nguyen, 23, was described by the court as a "mule or courier" as he was just sent to pick up the ants and the person who sent him paid for his ticket. | Nguyen, 23, was described by the court as a "mule or courier" as he was just sent to pick up the ants and the person who sent him paid for his ticket. |
| The court said Ng'ang'a, 26, acted as a "broker" due to his knowledge of the ants that are found in his rural home. | The court said Ng'ang'a, 26, acted as a "broker" due to his knowledge of the ants that are found in his rural home. |
| While sentencing Nguyen and Ng'ang'a, Ms Thuku said they were involved in what she described as "illegal wildlife trade and possibly bio-piracy". | While sentencing Nguyen and Ng'ang'a, Ms Thuku said they were involved in what she described as "illegal wildlife trade and possibly bio-piracy". |
| David, an ant enthusiast with 10 colonies of ants at home in Belgium, belongs to a Facebook group called "Ant Gang", the court heard. | David, an ant enthusiast with 10 colonies of ants at home in Belgium, belongs to a Facebook group called "Ant Gang", the court heard. |
| The Belgian teen, who first visited Kenya five years ago, said he had bought 2,500 queen ants for $200 when he was arrested looking for more. | The Belgian teen, who first visited Kenya five years ago, said he had bought 2,500 queen ants for $200 when he was arrested looking for more. |
| While pleading for leniency, David told the court he did not know his actions, which he regretted, were illegal. | While pleading for leniency, David told the court he did not know his actions, which he regretted, were illegal. |
| For his part, Lodewijckx said he had only offered to buy the ants for his entomology interest but his intention was not to traffic them. | For his part, Lodewijckx said he had only offered to buy the ants for his entomology interest but his intention was not to traffic them. |
| The ants were packed in more than 2,000 test tubes filled with cotton wool | The ants were packed in more than 2,000 test tubes filled with cotton wool |
| The court ordered the three foreigners to be repatriated to their country of origin upon payment of the fine or completion of the prison term. | The court ordered the three foreigners to be repatriated to their country of origin upon payment of the fine or completion of the prison term. |
| The men have 14 days to appeal against the ruling. | |
| In a statement, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hailed the ruling as a "testament to Kenya's zero-tolerance stance on wildlife trafficking". | In a statement, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hailed the ruling as a "testament to Kenya's zero-tolerance stance on wildlife trafficking". |
| It also highlighted the ecological importance of the giant African harvester ants, noting that their removal from the ecosystem could disrupt soil health and biodiversity. | |
| The agency said the case sent a clear message that Kenya would "relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone involved in the illegal wildlife trade, regardless of the species involved". | The agency said the case sent a clear message that Kenya would "relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone involved in the illegal wildlife trade, regardless of the species involved". |
| "Traffickers often underestimate the ecological value of smaller species, but their role in our ecosystems is irreplaceable," it added. | "Traffickers often underestimate the ecological value of smaller species, but their role in our ecosystems is irreplaceable," it added. |
| The KWS, which is more used to protecting larger creatures, such as lions and elephants, had earlier described this as a "landmark case", warning that the demand for rare insect species was growing. | The KWS, which is more used to protecting larger creatures, such as lions and elephants, had earlier described this as a "landmark case", warning that the demand for rare insect species was growing. |
| In Kenya, the ants are protected by international bio-diversity treaties and their trade is highly regulated. | In Kenya, the ants are protected by international bio-diversity treaties and their trade is highly regulated. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| The snipers trained to protect rhinos | The snipers trained to protect rhinos |
| Northern white rhinos: The audacious plan that could save a species | Northern white rhinos: The audacious plan that could save a species |
| Kenya receives 17 rare antelopes from the US | Kenya receives 17 rare antelopes from the US |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |