Tussels with Death: Honey gatherers of the Sundarbans

honey gatherers

Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forests in the world are also a great place for honey gatherers. For generations, villagers and fishermen from Bangladesh have been collecting wild honey from April to June every year.

The honey gathering season is one of the most anticipated in the country. It brings in the much needed extra income of the poor people living in and around the forested region.

They earn Rs. 5000 to Rs. 6000 during this season. This money is used by them to repay their debts and repair their boats. Normally, honey gathering sounds like a very simple rural job. But in these parts of the country, it is perhaps the most dangerous job.

The forests are home to one of the deadliest predators – the Royal Bengal Tiger. They are always on the prowl and can instantly kill a group of unarmed and poorly clad honey gatherers.

Apart from the tigers, there are venomous snakes lurking in the shadows. The crocodiles lie in wait in the muddy waters.

Moreover, there is also the constant threat of pirates. They kill the poor villagers if they don’t pay tribute to the ruthless and lawless robbers.

Tiger attacks happen throughout the year but the intensity increases during the honey gathering season. At least 80 people are killed by tigers every year in the Sundarbans.

Even the bees are some of the largest and most aggressive ones found throughout the world. Each of the beehives is four to five feet wide with tens of thousands of giant bees nesting in them. Torches made of leaves and twigs are lit to create smoke that makes the bees go away.

The occupation of the honey gatherers is never discouraged by tiger attacks. For if they do not risk life and limb their families will go unfed and uncared for.

 

Deepjyoti Roy

Poet, author and content writer; studying English(Hons.).

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