Over the last nine years, my team and I have rescued and relocated over 14,000 beehives from around Pune. Our motto is simple – we do not leave a single bee behind. By Amit Godse.
As I watched in horror, a bee hive in my society was sprayed with toxic chemicals. The bees died instantly, and the floor was covered with their poor little bodies. Isn’t it sad that people want honey in their lives, but not the animals that make it? I vowed to myself that I would put an end to this cruel practice, and thus began my journey as the ‘bee man’ of Pune. Over the last nine years, my team and I have rescued and relocated over 14,000 beehives from around the city. Since each hive can be home to at least 50,000 bees, I am thrilled when I realise that we have helped save close to 70 crore bees!
Amit Godse is a bee rescuer from Pune. Photo Courtesy: Amit Godse.
Pune city is home to four indigenous bee species. Rock bees Apis dorsata make their hives on high rise buildings and trees. Dwarf honey bees Apis florea make their hives on window grills, and trees such as neem. Indian bees Apis cerana indica make their hive inside toilets, cupboards, AC ducts, or even bird houses! The Indian stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis makes its hive inside electricity boards or tree holes. These bees are considered the best pollinators owing to their super tiny size. Pune is home to one imported bee species – the European/Italian bee Apis mellifera, which is not found in the wild. Understanding each bee’s behaviour and preferences is key to safely rescuing and relocating it.
When we rescue stingless bees, we cut the eggs and larvae chamber and place it in a box with the queen bee, and leave it there for two days. The other bees follow their next generation and queen into the box. For Apis florea, we cut and hang the hive for a day with a bamboo clip. At night, when all the bees have returned from a hard day of work, we relocate the box to farms and gardens. Our motto is simple – we don’t leave a single bee behind. At the new location, the worker bees swing into action since they have the to ensure their brood survives.
A beehive built on a light pole next to a busy road in Nagpur. Photo: Dnyaneshwari Pakhale/Sanctuary Photolibrary.
My team of bee rescuers has eight members. If anyone wants to learn this skill, please get in touch with us! We work in Pune, Nashik and Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. We had a special pass to keep working in the pandemic, just like doctors, since nature doesn’t stop! Bees don’t sting unless provoked, but it is inevitable that we get stung while rescuing. I’ve now become immune to stings!
Some people consider bees to be pests, while others understand their importance for life on Earth. We are in the business of rescuing these misunderstood creatures, and converting people into bee lovers.
Amit Godse is the founder and CEO of Bee Basket.