Photos by Andrew Newey

Have you ever heard about the ancient tradition of Honey hunting? Although it’s in current threat of commercialization, U.K.-based documentary/travel photographer Andrew Newey spent two weeks with the Gurung tribe  in central Nepal to capture this dying tradition. Here,  honey hunters use smoke to drive out thousands of angry Apis Laboriosa, the largest honey bee in the world, from their nests. This is one of the most ancient human activities recorded, dating back 10,000 years in Spain, and is still practiced in indigenous parts of Africa, Asia, Australia and South America.

Honey hunting is extremely risky because the hunters still use the same handmade rope ladders and long sticks that their ancestors used in order to reach the bees’ inaccessible cliff-face nests. By placing their nests on cliff faces, the bees avoid predators and increase their exposure to sunlight, producing more honey. Approximately 45 pounds of honey to carry back on a 3 hour hike to the village. There, the honey is divided up among the villagers and one of the first uses is for a cup of tea. Everything about it is astonishing and Newey captured this beautifully.

Newey’s photos are fascinating as the tradition is almost unbelievable. Be sure to check out more of his work here.

[Via Demilked]