Honey Hunters
The task of obtaining mountain honey
Due to the popularity of this type of honey, and the demand for it by many despite its potential dangers; Some adventurers chose to search for the whereabouts of this honey and cross many obstacles in order to obtain it in the most rugged and dangerous places: hills, mountains, and valleys. The process of mountain "honey hunting" is very complex, which consists of climbing and hanging on strong ropes and supports until reaching the honey-producing colonies and facing the stings of thousands of huge bees that may reach approximately three centimeters in size, which build their colonies at the highest possible point in a defensive way that allows Bees must protect their colonies, the honey content of which may reach 33 pounds - approximately 15 kilograms - per colony. What is interesting is that the collectors of “mountain Sidr honey” from the people of “Yemen” do not use any modern means to prevent bee stings and are accustomed to bearing their pain normally, and even the rugged heights and hills they use nothing more to climb than strong ropes and some burning sticks with which they use the rising smoke. Including removing the bees in a seemingly spontaneous way, so that the honey collector is ready to pick up the waxy slab rich in honey, which may reach a length of six feet - approximately 182 centimeters - with his bare hands without any hesitation.
The daring hunter..
Bakil Muhammad Rizq, a mountain honey hunter in the valleys and mountains of Yemen, makes his way through the rugged areas, climbing the mountains in search of bee houses in order to harvest mountain honey from them, defying danger and fear in order to obtain a living and provide pure honey to those who need it.
Nouri, who lives in Al-Osaimat in Amran Governorate, has been working for more than 27 years in harvesting mountain honey from bee houses high in the mountains and highlands surrounding his village, adopting it as a source of livelihood for himself and his family. He still continues this profession despite the daily dangers he faces while working. .
The honey search begins annually from spring through summer until fall, and includes determining the locations of bee houses in the mountains and then harvesting the honey stored from them in the summer.
Nouri, who is over the age of four, tells Al-Fakher Company: “I harvest honey annually, and the amount of honey I earn fluctuates from year to year. Sometimes I get 50 kg of honey from one bee house, and sometimes the quantity drops to 16 kg or less (5 kg). (According to the Bee House website.)
He continues, "I begin searching for bee homes in the highlands and mountains in the spring. My long experience in this field helps me follow the bees and know their homes. This research continues until July, that is, the middle of summer. Then I take a break for a month, and begin harvesting honey at the end of August."
Bakil Muhammad Rizq, a mountain honey hunter in the valleys and mountains of Yemen, makes his way through the rugged areas, climbing the mountains in search of bee houses in order to harvest mountain honey from them, defying danger and fear in order to obtain a living and provide pure honey to those who need it.
Nouri, who lives in Al-Osaimat in Amran Governorate, has been working for more than 27 years in harvesting mountain honey from bee houses high in the mountains and highlands surrounding his village, adopting it as a source of livelihood for himself and his family. He still continues this profession despite the daily dangers he faces while working. .
The honey search begins annually from spring through summer until fall, and includes determining the locations of bee houses in the mountains and then harvesting the honey stored from them in the summer.
Nouri, who is over the age of four, tells Al-Fakher Company: “I harvest honey annually, and the amount of honey I earn fluctuates from year to year. Sometimes I get 50 kg of honey from one bee house, and sometimes the quantity drops to 16 kg or less (5 kg). (According to the Bee House website.)
He continues, "I begin searching for bee homes in the highlands and mountains in the spring. My long experience in this field helps me follow the bees and know their homes. This research continues until July, that is, the middle of summer. Then I take a break for a month, and begin harvesting honey at the end of August."