The Kherson honey producer, Honey Moon Bear, which had an apiary in the village of Kiselevka that was under occupation for almost 9 months, has decided to give the surviving bees to its colleagues.
The brand announced this decision on its Instagram.
"If you are reading this, it means we no longer have an apiary. There is not a single bee or hive left. There are no tools and none of the heritage that our family cherished for four generations. The small business of a whole life of a large generation of beekeepers, which was just beginning to flourish, is gradually coming to an end," the producer stated in one of its notes.
Honey Moon Bear is giving away all the surviving bees to other beekeepers along with beehives, tools, and creamers.
After 1.5 years of war and solitude, a few bee families managed to survive. Therefore, their interests were our top priority when considering the next steps. First and foremost, relocation to another part of Ukraine is necessary: buying or renting a plot where we could live and work. Unfortunately, with our line of work, doing this in Kherson region is no longer feasible due to constant shelling for us and minefields and occupation for the bees, where they gathered nectar.
Secondly, the recovery of hives, many of which need to be rebuilt practically from scratch due to external or internal damage. Thirdly, the breeding and cultivation of bee families. To restore at least the pre-war number of bees, it will take several years of relentless work and a considerable amount of money.
At the moment, Honey Moon Bear lacks the resources to support even those surviving bees and help them endure another harsh winter.
