The tallest tree in Asia lowland rainforest, sometimes the height could reach as high as 88 meters with a canopy like branches on the top and a slippery trunk. A good way to protect from intruders , both human and animals. The home of Asian giant bees, Apis Dorsata, who build their gigantic hives up on the highest branch. The hunters build wooden steps to reach the hives. They harvest the honey at night when the bees are less active as the bees could not see in the dark. This is how the tree looks like at night.
Mr. Nizam posing with one of the bee tree or the Tualang tree in Pedu Lake, Kedah. His family has the exclusive right to the beehives on a few trees in Pedu Lake for more than 50 years.
The Tualang tree with its occupants standing tall in the middle of the Pedu Lake rainforest. The hives is full of honey now and ready for harvest.
The hunters nailed wooden steps high up on to the Tualang branches to reach the beehives. Bees are very territorial and protective of their nest. Since bees could not see in the dark, the harvesting activities are done at night.
A giant beehive on the Tualang branch
Wooden steps next to the beehives
The honey hunters preparing wooden steps at night to avoid from being attack by the bees.
Honey hunters climbing up the Tualang tree to replace the last year rotten wooden steps.
Before the actual harvesting process take place, the hunters need to check and replace the wooden steps one by one.
The hunters repairing wooden steps on the tree trunk at 2 am. The long rope is used to transport the wooden stick from the ground to the hunters while they slowly hike up
