Stunning Images Of The Ancient Traditional Honey Hunters Of Nepal

Andrew Newey, an award-winning UK-based travel photographer, has captured powerful images of members of the Gurung tribe in central Nepal taking part in a dangerous, ancient tradition—honey hunting.

Twice a year, the Gurung honey hunters climb steep cliffs to collect honey using the same tools their ancestors used—hand-woven rope ladders and long bamboo poles called tangos. They use the tangos to cut honey-filled hives from the cliffs and drop them into baskets below. To keep the bees away, they light smoke fires at the base of the cliffs before climbing up to gather the honey.

The honey hunters face the risk of falling, but they’re also working with the largest honeybees in the world—the Himalayan honey bee, which can grow up to 3 cm (1.2 inches). These bees feed on the white rhododendrons in the spring, making their honey potentially intoxicating. This honey is highly valued in Japan, Korea, and China. The bees’ open cliff hives provide protection from predators and warmth from the sunlight.

Honey hunting is one of the oldest human activities. An 8,000-year-old cave painting in Spain shows a man climbing vines to collect honey. It’s likely that the honey hunters’ tradition dates back just as far, if not longer.

Website: andrewnewey.com (via theguardian)

Twice a year, the Gurung honey hunters ascend to the base of cliffs in central Nepal and ascend them to collect honey.

They use the same tools as their ancestors – hand-woven rope ladders and tangos, long, sharp bamboo poles used to cut the honey-filled hives from the cliff face.

Honey hunting is among the oldest known human activities. There is an 8,000-year-old cave painting in Spain that portrays a man climbing vines to collect honey.

In addition to the risk of falling, they are also harvesting honey from the largest honeybee in the world. The Himalayan honey bee can grow up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) in length.

The spring honey produced by these bees can be intoxicating due to grayanotoxins from the white rhododendrons they feed on. This honey is highly prized and fetches high prices in Japan, Korea, and China.