Ngong Forest

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 12 2009 | By: ngongforest

In Ngong Forest Sanctuary,bee keeping project was started in 2003 funded by UNDP-GEF Small Grant Programme, as a user group and an alternative source of income for the local community . Every Wednesday the members carry out hives inspection and they assembled at a common point,the main gate.Last Wednesday was honey harvesting day,the women reported very early in the morning to their surprise ,they found a troop of baboons at the apiary site ,they had invaded and destroyed the beehives ,some were found feeding on the honey. The vigilant male baboons attacked the women and some of their belongings.

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Baboons searching bags belonging to the beekeeping members

baboons in action

Screaming from the women attracted our attention and we rushed to the rescue. On reaching the apiary, we found Baboons busy eating honey as others continued breaking hives searching for honey. What shocked us was the way they harvested like human beings by removing frames one by one ,rubbing off the bees and then pose to eat

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some members during hives inspection

That day they managed to harvest only two super boxes .This was the first baboon invasion of hives the beekeeping group witnessed prior the group members had complained of maasai cattle’s destroying hives and sometimes intruders stealing honey

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woman carrying super-boxes

women ferrying the crude honey for processing

Ngong forest Sanctuary Trust is protected through kind donation from friends and well wishers, join us by donating towards protection of this adorable forest reserve.