A Short History and Brief about Honey
Hunting:
Nepal is very rich in honeybee diversity. There
are at least five different honeybee species in
the country. A large quantity of honey and
beeswax is being produced from indigenous
honeybees (mainly Apis dorsata and Apis
laboriosa). These bee species play a vital role
in pollinating mountain crops and wild flora.
However, there is a significant lack of
information about the population status of
indigenous honeybees, and their relationship and
role in regulating honey-hunting traditions,
livelihood issues, and biodiversity
conservation.
ICIMOD has carried out field studies in six
mountain districts of Nepal. On the basis of
this information, Kaski district was selected as
a site for an in-depth study of Apis laboriosa
nesting sites, their habitat, and their
relationship with the sociocultural and economic
complex of local communities. The study also
focused on the spiritual and social values of
honey hunting and its role in livelihoods. The
status of wild honeybees and their nesting sites
was surveyed by making field visits and using
questionnaires. We recorded the locations of bee
cliffs using global positioning system (GPS)
equipment. An innovative approach "Appreciative
Participatory Planning and Action" was used to
collect information on honey hunting communities
- their status, the level of dependency on honey
hunting and the challenges they face in a
changed socioeconomic and ecological scenario
Twice a year high in the Himalayan foothills of
central Nepal teams of men gather around cliffs
that are home to the world's largest honeybee,
Apis laborious. As they have for generations,
the men come to harvest the Himalayan cliff
bee's honey. The harvest ritual, which varies
slightly from community to community, begins
with a prayer and sacrifice of flowers, fruits,
and rice. Then a fire is lit at the base of the
cliff to smoke the bees from their honeycombs.
From above, a honey hunter descends the cliff
harnessed to a ladder by ropes. As his mates
secure the rope and ladder from the top and
ferry tools up down as required, the honey
hunter fights territorial bees as he cuts out
chunks of honey from the comb." A chance to view
and experience the traditional honey hunting
harvest of the Gurung people. The Bees Apis
laboriosa and Apis dorsata are indigenous to the
region and traditional methods of harvesting the
honey on steep cliffs have remained unchanged
for generations.
The introduction of non indigenous plant species
and the Eurporean honey bee Apis mellifera have
put pressure on these local bees to compete, and
they need to fly further and further to forage
their preferred plant species. This along with
over harvesting has resulted in the bees'
decline. The Himalayan Honeybees project for the
Nepal Visitors in
Kathmandu
has been actively involved in the sustainable
management of honey hunting and work with the
local communities to ensure the survival of the
species. Tourism in this area helps communities
protect the flora and fauna, and so gives the
bees and local hunters a chance to co-exist and
continue.
Nepal Visitors
recommended you, if you are a adventure lovers.
you should test the honey hunting trips in
Nepal. its will be the real adventure feelings.
The Blue Space will donate a percentage of
profits from these trips to local communities
who are actively involved and promoting Nepal
Visitors ideas. There are great views of peaks Lamjung Himal, Manaslu, Hiunchuli, Buddha Himal
and Annapurna II.
Honey hunting techniques.
Each area has its
own distinctive style of honey hunting to suit
local resources and bees. The basic method of
lighting fire under the bee cliffs to smoke the
bees from the combs appears to be universal.
However, socio-cultural and spiritual practices
carried out prior to hunting honey are quite
different from community to community.
A group of about a dozen men-with ropes,
ladders, poles, baskets and pots proceed to the
cliff. First, a worship and sacrifice is
performed and cliff god is offered with flowers,
fruits and rice grains. At the base of the rock
a fire is made from wood and foliage, so that
the smoke rise to disperse the bees upwards from
the lower edges of their combs, leaving the
brood and honey sections of the combs clearly
visible. A ladder is suspended from the top of
the cliff, tightly secured to trees at both
upper and lower ends. Honey hunter is fastened
to the ladder by a rope and descends the rope
ladder while others at the top of the cliff make
sure that the rope is held securely. Two to
three persons are responsible for checking,
raising and lowering the rope to send items down
from above and pull items up from the floor as
necessary. One person, who perches on
overhanging tree, looks the event carefully and
gives signals to others. Near the ladder a large
woven collecting basket is lowered to the nest
site through another rope. When the honey hunter
gets near the nest to be harvested, he uses a
long stick to balance the collecting basket
exactly under the comb. Its base is guided by a
rope held by the people at the base of the
cliff. First the brood portion of the comb is
separated. The honey hunter uses a bamboo stick
to pierce a hole in the brood comb area of the
colony to be harvested. By piercing the comb and
attaching hook to the comb, honey hunter cuts
the brood portion of the comb safely. After
that, wooden or iron sickles fixed to the bamboo
stick cut honeycombs. Basket is guided to catch
the chunks of honey as they drop down. When
full, the basket is lowered down to the ground,
emptied and used again. The whole operation from
start to finish is very delicate. It may take
2-3 hours or more just to harvest one of the
many colonies.
http://bees4livelihood.icimod.org/home/?q=node/40
Nepal
Honey Hunting Tour Itinerary.
Day 01 - Arrival
at Kathmandu.Overnight
Day 02 - Kathmandu to Besisahar by
land.Besisahar to Baglung Pani.Overnight
camping.
Day 03 - Baglung Pani to Ghalegaun. Ghalegaun to
Bhujung.Overnight camping.
Day 04 - Rest
Day 05 - Bhujung to Kaleji Vir
Day 06 - Kaleji Vir to Thaku Vir (honey hunting)
Day 07 - Thaku Vir (honey hunting)
Day 08 - Thaku Vir to Bhujung
Day 09 - Bhujung to Pash Gaun
Day 10 - Pash Gaun to Gahate
Day 11 - Gahate to Pokhara
Day 12 - Full day Sightseeing at Pokhara
Day 13 - Pokhara to Kathmandu
Day 14 - Full day Sightseeing at Kathmandu
Day 15 - Fly out
Cost Includes:
Arrival /
departure transfers by private car.
Hotel
accommodation on twin sharing basis with
breakfast.
Luxury Ac
transport as per itinerary for sightseeing.
All
sightseeing with your own language speaking
guides, entrance fees.
Reconfirmation
of your flight ticket
Cost Excludes:
Personal expenses,
lunch & dinner, telephone calls, laundry, bar
bill
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