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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hemalsilva" data-source="post: 16378836" data-attributes="member: 7335">The ancient art of honey hunting in Nepal <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419093826/Honey-hunter-collecting-f-008.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> The Gurung tribesmen of Nepal are master honey hunters, risking their lives collecting honeycomb in the foothills of the Himalayas, using nothing more than handmade rope ladders and long sticks known as tangos. Most of the honey bees' nests are located on steep inaccessible, south-west facing cliffs to avoid predators and for increased exposure to direct sunlight. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419100607/Honey-hunters-traditional-010.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> In December 2013, photographer Andrew Newey spent two weeks living with the Gurung in a remote hilltop village in central Nepal’s Kaski district, joining the three-day autumn honey hunt, which was six weeks later than normal due to a changing climate and reduced bee population. Before a hunt can commence the honey hunters are required to perform a ceremony to placate the cliff gods. This involves sacrificing a sheep, offering flowers, fruits and rice, and praying to the cliff gods to ensure a safe hunt. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419084077/Honey-hunter-on-a-rope-la-005.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> A honey hunter clings precariously to a rope ladder while he waits for the rising smoke to drive thousands of angry Apis Laboriosa, the largest honey bee in the world, out of their nests. Despite this being a team effort – up to a dozen men are drafted in to support the hunter or ‘kuiche’ - there is silence, pressure and precision <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419090408/Honey-hunter-collecting-f-007.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Engulfed by the thick, acrid smoke, the hunter jousts tentatively at a nest with a bamboo stick with a sickle or wooden plate at one end, cutting the exposed honeycomb away from the cliff face. Using another stick to guide the basket hanging beside him, he catches the honeycomb as it falls before the basket is then lowered to the ground. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419097157/Honeycomb-Nepal-009.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> One major threat to traditional, responsible honey hunting comes from the growing medicinal reputation of Himalayan honey, which is increasingly exported for use in Japanese, Chinese and Korean traditional medicines and to treat infections and injuries. Spring ‘Red’ honey is the most sought after, costing upwards of $US15 per kilogram. This demand has resulted in a shift in ownership of the cliffs away from the indigenous communities to the government, allowing them to open honey-harvesting rights to contractors. At the same time the younger generation's reluctance to follow in the footsteps of their elders, due to the risks involved, limited income and moving away to cities, is also contributing to the dwindling numbers of traditional honey hunters. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419087070/Honey-hunter-Nepal-006.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> One of the Gurung men watches from the base of the cliff as the cutter repositions himself on the rope ladder 200ft above. An influx of tourists trekking the world famous Annapurna circuit has stimulated interest among trekking agencies in organising ‘staged’ honey hunting events in areas such as Ghandruk, Manang and Lamjung. They charge US$250-$1,500 for one honey-hunting event, very little of which is paid to the indigenous communities. Honey hunters are tempted by this short-term financial benefit to harvest outside of the normal season with tourists using climbing gear to accompany them, damaging the cliff face and nesting sites in the process. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419080464/Honey-hunter-descending-t-004.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> As the honey hunter descends the rope ladder, the blood, blisters and bee stings that are synonymous with this treacherous tradition become visible. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419073875/Honey-hunter-eating-honey-002.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> After a three-hour trek back up to the village carrying approximately 20kg of honey, this hunter enjoyed a hard earned piece of honeycomb by the fire. <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419069427/Nepalese-villager-prepari-001.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> The honey is divided up among the villagers and one of the first uses is for a cup of honey tea. Newey arranged to visit a honey-hunting site well away from the popular Annapurna circuit. Despite this, he was frequently asked by the hunters how he had found out when and where the hunt would take place: "Because these are responsible hunters they were concerned about their cliffs suffering from this unwanted tourist activity if the location was disclosed." <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/26/1393419077165/Young-Nepalese-boy-eating-003.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></blockquote>

Verification: Winadiyakata thappara keeyak tibeda?

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