Wednesday, August 21st 2019 Show Links
Search Menu
News / UK & World

IN PICTURES: Amazing ‘honey-hunters’ who risk their lives in China to collect from hives

by Ross Gilmore
June 6 2019, 9.46am Updated: June 6 2019, 10.42am
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun is surrounded by bees as he stands on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Mi Qiaoyun, left, and Ma Yongde rest next to a container of honey after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde carries honey on his back after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde chops bamboo to make a container after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde chops bamboo to make a container after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde,right, and Mi Qiaoyun carry honey on thier backs as they climb out after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter sets a fire for smoke while he and others were gathering wild cliff honey in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Dong Haifa, left, and brother Dongwu carry gear as they walk out on a trail after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 31, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyHelpers watch and wait as Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters, not seen, gather wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun stands on a makeshift rope ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa ,right, and Ma Yongde hold onto trees as they look over a cliffside before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 30, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa,left, and Mi Qiaoyun, center, and Ma Yongde build a makeshift rope ladder as they prepare to gather wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Mi Qiaoyun, right, and Ma Yongde sit still next to a fire they set to deter bees before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde walks in smoke after making a fire before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde walks in smoke after making a fire before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Dong Haifa stands still to avoid being stung after making a fire to create smoke before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettySmoke is seen around hives where Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters were gathering wild cliff honey in a gorge onnear Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun stands on a makeshift rope ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun is surrounded by bees as he stands on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa is swarmed by bees as he works on a makeshift rope ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde prepares to climb down a makeshift rope laddder on a cliffside while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun struggles with a pole as he stands on a makeshift rope ladder surrounded by bees as he works gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde sit still next to a fire he set to deter bees before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa hangs on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 30, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa, top, and Mi Qiaoyun stand on a makeshift rope ladder as they are surrounded by bees as they work together gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde chops bamboo to make a container after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyA Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter holds a large piece of wax from a hive while gathering wild cliff honey in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China. Gathering wild "u2018cliff honey"u2019 is not for the faint of heart. To get it, honey hunters face swarms of bees and get stung repeatedly while suspended from rope ladders; lower hives can often be reached with wooden ladders or poles.  Hunters suit up in protective gear and use smoke to scatter the giant Himalayan honey bees from their hives to reduce the risk of confrontation, but there are literally thousands of them in each hive.  An adult Himalayan honey bee, the world"u2019s largest honey bee species, can measure 3 centimeters in size.  The hunters never take honey from all of the hives in one area, leaving enough for the bees to ensure they will return the following season. Harvesting the honey has long been a cultural tradition and economic staple for the Lisu people, an ethnic group in the southwest mountainous areas of Yunnan province along China"u2019s border with Myanmar.  The Lisu are known to move skilfully in the mountains, but there are fewer honey hunters still practising the dangerous and exhausting pursuit of collecting the honey from isolated cliffside hives.  The tradition is also not immune to environmental change: some honey hunters claim they are finding fewer hives than in the past because bee populations are impacted by heavy pesticide use among local farmers and global warming.  Cliff honey is considered purer and healthier than regular honey, and it is coveted by many in China where it typically sells for upwards of $50 U.S. per kilogram. A single hive can have many kilograms inside.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun, left, and helper Dongwu smoke as thye rest after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Mi Qiaoyun, right, and Ma Yongde sit still next to a fire they set to deter bees before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters light a fire to make smoke before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 30, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde, right, and helper Dongwu washthe outside of a container of fresh honey while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 31, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyHelpers and a honey buyer take photos as Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters, not seen, gather wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa, top, and Mi Qiaoyun stand on a makeshift rope ladder as they are surrounded by bees as they work together gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Hives can bee seen as Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun is surrounded by bees as he climbs on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun is surrounded by bees as he climbs on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun carries honey on a steep trail after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa , top and Ma Yongde hang on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 30, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyA helper looks up as he waits for more fresh wild cliff honey as Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters, not seen, gather it in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun is surrounded by bees as he climbs on a makeshift ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa, right, and Ma Yongde set a fire to deter bees before gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa,center, and Mi Qiaoyun,left, and Ma Yongde stand with containers of honey after gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde hangs from a makeshift rope ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 30, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters Dong Haifa, top, and Mi Qiaoyun stand on a makeshift rope ladder while gathering wild cliff honey from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China. kilograms inside.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters cut fresh beehives after gathering wild cliff honey in a gorge on May 31, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Mi Qiaoyun, not seen, uses a bucket to collect honey after cutting the hive while gathering wild cliff honey in a gorge on May 11, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyA Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter gathers fresh wild cliff honey in a tarp after collecting it from hives in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
Fresh wild cliff honey flows into a container after it was gathered from hives by Chinese ethnic Lisu honey hunters in a gorge on May 10, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China.
© GettyChinese ethnic Lisu honey hunter Ma Yongde, center, and Dong Haifa process fresh wild cliff honey at the family home after gathering it from hives in a gorge on May 31, 2019 near Mangshi, in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province China

Gathering wild honey is not for the faint of heart, as these people in Yunnan province in China show.

To get it, the “honey hunters” face swarms of bees and get stung repeatedly while suspended from rope ladders. Lower hives can often be reached with wooden ladders or poles.

Hunters suit up in protective gear and use smoke to scatter the giant Himalayan honey bees from their hives to reduce the risk of confrontation, but there are literally thousands of them in each hive.

 

Breaking