Trees
THAT LIVE IN WATER

They provide refuge for many endangered species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. They also preserve the environment by filtering pollutants from the water. In south Florida, U.S.A.., some 75 percent of game fish and 90 percent of fish caught for commercial purposes depend on them. And they cerate a barrier that protects costal areas from storms and tides. What are they? Mangroves!

HUNTING FOR WILD HONEY IN THE Mangroves

The largest of the world’s mangroves forests is in the Sundarbans, part of the vast Ganges Delta, which straddles India and Bangladesh. Among the people living there are the Mowalis, who depend upon mangroves for their livelihood. Their is one of the highest risk professions in the country.

Mowalis are honey hunters. In April and May each year, they venture into shifting landscape of mangroves to search for the honey combs of the giant honeybee. The bees are large, growing to about four centimeters in length. And they are aggressive, having been known to kill elephants!

So honey hunters carry torches made of mangrove vegetation, the smoke from which disperses the bees. Wise honey hunters leave part of the hive behind so that the bees can rebuild it, thereby sustaining the honey yield from year to year.

The bees are not the only threat to the honey hunters. Others include crocodiles and poisonous snakes, which in habit the mangroves. Also, thieves may wait to ambush honey hunters as they live the forest with their honey and wax. While these are threat, the greatest peril is the Royal Bengal tiger. Every year, these animals kill between 15 and 20 honey hunters.