# Cliffside Honey Heist (DD-351)

> In mountainous parts of China, Nepal and elsewhere in Asia, honey hunters harvest wild honeycombs from colonies on steep cliffs, often those of giant honeybees. The Reel describes the practice in Yunnan and Sichuan: climbers rappel or use ropes and ladders, then cut the comb with long poles. The honey is valued locally for its flavor. The footage shows climbers removing comb from a cliff hive.

- Department: People (also Nature)
- First published: 2024-10-22
- Last updated: 2024-10-22
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/cliffside-honey-heist/
- Original Reel title: Cliffside Honey Heist 🍯
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-351-F01**: Honey hunting is traditional. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Practice))_
- **DD-351-F02**: Hives hang on cliffs. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Cliffs))_

## Write-up

Honey hunters rappel down cliffs to reach wild hives. It is a traditional practice in parts of Asia.

1. **Practice**: Honey hunting is traditional.
2. **Cliffs**: Hives hang on cliffs.
3. **Bees**: Often giant honeybees.
4. **Ropes**: Hunters use ropes and ladders.
5. **Region**: Practiced in Asian mountains.

## Related case files

- [Busy Busy Bees (DD-174)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/busy-busy-bees/): I linked more bees

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Cliffside Honey Heist: Honey Hunters Rappel Down Cliffs to Reach Wild Hives

- Duration: 26.7 s · Published: 2024-10-22
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DBbN2Wvp0AQ.mp4

### Transcript

Did you know, cliffside beehive harvesting in China, particularly in the mountainous regions of Yunnan and Sichuan, involves traditional methods used by local beekeepers to collect honey from wild honeybee colonies that build hives on steep cliffs. This practice often requires skilled climbers who rappel down cliffs to access the hives. Harvesters use long sticks or ropes to gently extract the honeycomb, taking care not to harm the bees. The honey collected is often prized for its unique flavor and medicinal properties. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Where are the hives?**  
A: Wild colonies. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Practice) · Wikipedia: Honey hunting)_

**Q: How do hunters reach them?**  
A: Climbing. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cliffs) · Wikipedia: Honey hunting)_

**Q: What tool cuts the comb?**  
A: Reach. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Bees) · Wikipedia: Apis laboriosa)_

**Q: Which bees build cliff hives?**  
A: Apis. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Ropes) · Wikipedia: Honey hunting)_

**Q: Which regions?**  
A: China, Nepal. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Region) · Wikipedia: Honey hunting)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Honey hunting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hunting)
- [Wikipedia: Apis laboriosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_laboriosa)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Cliffside Honey Heist." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-351, last updated Oct 22, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/cliffside-honey-heist/