Honey Collection of JenukurubarPrepared by Rayson K. Alex02 August 2009

Jenukurubar are basically honey collectors and have indigenous ways of collecting honey.Jayappa from Kolaviye Hamlet holding honey comb.Photographed by Shailendra.

Jenukurubar go deep into the forests for collecting honey and stay in caves made by bears.Photographed by Shailendra.

“Jenu” means honey. The tribe is named after honey.Photographed by Shailendra.

“Kenchayya lit a beedi. Smoked a puff into the hive. Bees smaller than house-flies began flying all around the place. They did not sting him. He put his hand into the bamboo-cluster. Dragged-out a comb of bee-hive. Jayappa was already ready with a teak leaf to hold the beehive, oozing with pure honey. Kenchayya taking honey from a bee-hive. Photographed by Shailendra.

“Honey-bees are migratory in nature. They go as a flock from one place to another in search of honey. The queen (raani) leads the team.”Kenchayya taking honey from a bee-hive. Photographed by Shailendra.

“Honey-bees stay in the places where they get food for 2-3 days and return to their original hives. They do not make hives in the places where they stay.” Kenchayya taking honey from a bee-hive. Photographed by Shailendra.

A huge tree in the forest might have 100 to 200 hives.Many hives on a tree. Photographed by Rayson K. Alex.

A hive may have 20-25 liters of honey.Many hives on a tree. Photographed by Rayson K. Alex.

Honey-knowledge of Jenukurubar is to be studied in detail.