Traditional Bee Hunting in ZO Hills

IN OUR land, there’s an old and clever way of taming wild red and yellow coloured bees -- a tradition passed down by our forefathers.

A small piece of meat is tied to a bamboo stick and placed near the entrance of a bee hole. These bees are fierce, and their sting is very painful. But if you wait patiently, you’ll see the bees coming out one by one, taking bits of the meat back into their underground nest.

To protect the bait, we must guard it every morning and evening, keeping watch so that birds, squirrels, or other insects don’t snatch it away.

We make a bamboo seat nearby, where we sit and watch silently, careful not to disturb the bees as they work.

It’s truly a wonder the bees are united and work together like a well-trained team. They keep working all day and even through the night. Some bees fly out and bring food, like tiny pieces of rice or other bits they find. Others act like living JCBs, pushing and levelling the soil near the entrance. Two bees often stand guard at the mouth of the hole, constantly on the move, watching for any danger.

And that's just what we see on the outside, there are likely many more working inside the nest. It is also said that deep within, there lives a queen bee who leads the whole colony.

After about 3 to 4 months, the reward appears: a large honeycomb hidden deep under the earth, full of rich, natural wild honey.

This is how we gently guide wild bees without disturbing them -- a beautiful mix of patience, tradition, and nature’s rhythm, just as our ancestors once did.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal

15|| 07 || 2020 

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