In the rainforests of Malaysia, the Tualang tree stands high above others, hosting hives of Asiatic Giant Bees. Once a year, 85-year-old rice farmer Salleh Mohammad Nor and his team of honey hunters set out to scale these tall trees in the forests of Pedu, Kedah. They have just a brief window of time to harvest their prize: one of the world’s highest grades of honey. Steeped in traditional beliefs and practices, the honey hunters help us discover how ancient know-how may offer the key to understanding the science behind the giant bees.
Produced in 2017 by Archaeological Legacy Institute
Copyright 2017 by Archaeological Legacy Institute
Web links:
Honey Hunters of Malaysia (National Public Radio)
Honey Hunting (Wikipedia)
Honey Hunting and Gathering: A Malaysian Tropical Forest Expedition for the Adventurous Tourist (ResearchGate)
On the road with Malaysia’s honey hunters - in pictures (The Guardian)
Tualang honey. What is Tualang honey?