Honey hunters of the Gurung ethnic community harvesting honeycomb at a cliff in the Lamjung district of Nepal. Photos: AFP
Hanging from a rope-and-bamboo ladder off a Himalayan mountain cliff, skilled Nepali climbers gather highly prized hallucinogenic honey – an ancient tradition stung by environmental degradation and rapid climate change.
Wreathed in smoke to drive away defensive clouds of giant bees, 26-year-old Som Ram Gurung dangles dangerously 100m off the ground, slicing off dark and dripping hunks of delicious honeycomb.
