PREVENTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND BEEKEEPERS IN THE LAZO DISTRICT of SOUTH-EASTERN PRIMORYE, RUSSIA
REPORT 2005
By Alexey Zborovskiy
As body and mind, Man is unseparable part of Whole. As Self, He is this Whole. This work is dedicated to prosperity of the Unite Family of the people, animals, and plants, to which we all belong.
Preface
Today, a very significant part of all moonbears of southern regions of Primorye is killed on the forest beeyards (while other large part is being murdered in winter time - in the tree dens). For last century, the traditional tool, by which beekeepers protect their hives from bears in the area, is the gun. Former director of the Lazo State Reserve (famous for his wildlife defending activities) Dr. V. Khramtsov says: "For sure, in the Lazo district bears are being killed at most forest beeyards. Their paws and gallbladders are now frequently sold to Chinese smugglers. But majority of local beekeepers are afraid of law. Thus they tend to hide corps of the killed bears... This is why obtaining statistic on bears, killed at beeyards, is an extremely hard task".
Nevertheless, through conversations with beekeepers and other local people, and from literature, we're aware that significant part (if not say - most) of all annually harvested bears in southern regions of Primorye die on forest beeyards.
Project's brief history
Through 2001-2006, I lived in Primorye's forest village called Lazo (marked by red point on the sattelite image below).
A south-eastern Primorye, Russia. The brown-gray spot (left top corner) is a Khanka lake. The red point indicates the Lazo village, which is situated app. 60 km from the Sea of Japan. The cities nearest to Lazo are Partizansk and Nakhodka.
Together with Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), in 2004 we've made a first high-tensile bear electric fence in Lazo district (perhaps, first one in nowadays Primorye as well). Unfortunatelly, the apiary, where we assembled this permanent construction, was soon closed due to argue between local people (see Bears and beekeepers report 2004). Looking for best solution for district of unstable socio-economical situation, we came to idea of using mobile fences instead of permanent ones.
Therefore, our overall plan for the 2005th season was: 1) to provide stable protection for one forest beeyard in work area, and 2) to make an extra mobile fence, which can be used on the problematic beeyards for the short time periods (i.e. - till the particular bear leaves the particular apiary).
In order to have some tangible results, wich the AAF's directorate expected, we very much hoped to prevent at least one really possible bear conflict in the given season.
RESULTS
In spring 2005, we've found a really problematic apiary, damaged by bears almost every summer. Bears are being shot there approximatelly each second-third year. It is surely known, that one adult moonbear was killed there in the previous honey season (i. e. - in summer of 2004).
It's a relatively large collective yard, counting for more than 60 hives (photos 1, 1a).
Photo 1. April 2005. Forest apiary. The Lazovskiy (Lazo) district of Primorye.
Photo 1a.
Frustrated beekeepers surrounded it with a mere fishing net (photo 2), for they hoped, at least, to force bears to enter the yard through the particluar holes, such as gates etc. Apparently, it is easier for the beekeeper to kill a bear which enters the yard through specific hole, than a bear, which appears from unpredicted direction.
Photo 2.
The conducted work
We've re-constructed our permanent electric fence (made in 2004) into a slighter one model. Using the last, we've protected 1/5th part of the mentioned beeyard (photos 3, 4). We wished to protect more, but couldn't due to specific configuration of beeyard and other reasons (mentioned below). Majority of hives, owned by 5 different persons, are placed in one set of nearly 50 boxes. There are also 2 smaller sets, belonging to remainig two beekeepers. One such small set (which is visible on above photo 2) includes only 6 hives. The other one is composed by 13 hives. With our fence, we could have surround up to 25 hives at once. In addition, some of beekeepers from main set disliked our work for some reason. So we choosed the 13-hives set, belonging to relatively friendly person.
Photo 3.
Photo 4.
Actually, the very hives, which we've protected, were damaged by bear in the previous season. As you can see yourself (photo 4, on the right), this set of 13 hives is somewhat isolated and is situated at the edge of the yard. These hives are among nearests to the forest. Therefore, it is not surprising that they were choosen by bear earlier.
Regarding bears, we saw only fresh foraging spots - app. 85 m from our fence (photo 5), but no live animals, or any other sign. Until middle August, we had no evidence that bears ever entered the yard. However, by the end of summer, one of beekeepers told us that they "spooked a bear away from the apiary". In the later conversation, however, this same beekeeper (and his wife) explained that the bear has slightly damaged 4 hives, and that he then was just sligtly wounded (by small bullets), but not killed. This accident took place not near our fence, but near some unprotected hives*.
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*In fact, by the end of summer, our beekeeper took his bees in some other different valley, where the honey harvest was better. Thus, when the bear finally came, our fence � І� ‚Сљprotected� І� ‚Сњ an empty place. When our partner-beekeeper came back (with honey), he found that 85% of other people's hives are lost due to some bee parasite (a tick - Varroa Yakobsoni). This year, very many beekeepers in Lazo district lost their bees due to this unexpected disease. People say that infected bee families were simply leaving the hives, i. e. - just flew away to look for better life.
Photo 5. Bear foraging spot near the small creek, where apiary's people usually take water.
The obvious positive result of our work was the increased peace of mind, obtained by a person, who's hives we've protected. Other results are following:
The beekeepers, which saw our fence, found our technology interesting. (However, when we asked all beekeepers of this apiary, if they'd like their hives to be protected in the next summer, most of them demonstrated quite a little interest. They said that we should ask them in the beginning of the next season).
One old lady-beekeeper (photo 6), which apparently lacks helpers (and which lost many hives in the previous years cause of bear), said that she definetely wants her hives to be protected by our fence in the next season.
Photo 6.
As it was planned originally, we've made a very portable fence, which can protect up to 25 hives at once. In fact, it is a kit of equipment, including light barrow, solar panel, light posts and other (Photo 7).
Photo 7.
We've reached tangible progress in both quality and speed of assembling the electric fences. For instance, we don't use heavy and unsustained wooden corner posts anymore. Now it takes us between 6 and 8 hours to assemble up fences of perimeters up to 50 m. Correspondingly, the beekeepers have better impressure from observing our work now.
Problems we've faced
There were some problems associated with the project, which we don't describe here in detail due to lack of time. Working with beekeepers of nowadays Primorye requires some patiency.
Acknowledgements
This work wouldn't be possible without financial participation of the Animals Asia Foundation.
Animals Asia Foundation's logo
Discussion
Now, based on the 2 seasons of field experiments with bear fencing in Primorye, let us make some conclusions.
As you can see from the above report, while being potentially capable of protecting up to 25 hives at once, our fence was protecting 13 hives only. This is mainly because we didn't discuss our work with all apiary's beekeepers in due time. In fact, the earlier one starts discussion with beekeepers, the better... Before springtime starts, all hives are kept in warm storages. Most commonly, they're taken out and set on the ground in March. Significant movements of hives, after they set up, is not recommended due to peculiarities of bees behaviour. In order to place hives in best locations, and, respectivelly - use the fencing equipment optimally, one should arrange all details of future fencing with all apiary's beekeepers in winter time period - i. e. before hives are taken from storages.
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