Bees facing extinction - 21st May 2021

Bees help the environment and food production by pollinating major crops. However, numbers are decreasing quickly around the world. This is because of large urban areas, pollution and the use of chemicals to keep crops insect-free.

In Malaysia, environmental supporters have set up an association called " My Bee Savior" to help stop the decline.

Software developer Ooi Leng Chye volunteers with “My Bee Savior”. When bees are found in problematic places in the city, he transfers them to the safety of helpers' gardens.

Ooi Leng Chye: "So just move them in, take all the comb away, all the comb out from their original place and then move the bee as well as the comb back and place them into a box in wherever place that we want to keep the bees."

Ooi doesn't feel he needs to put on specialised gear. He believes the bees will only hurt him if they are threatened.

He guides the insects gently into a basket and slowly removes the yellow honeycomb. It can take 2 to 3 hours to take out a nest. It is then transported to a more suitable location. The nest is placed inside a wooden box which will become the bees’ new home.

"My Bee Savior" can deal with up to 10 problem nests per day. Traditionally, when unwanted nests were discovered in the city, the fire brigade were contacted. Frequently their solution was to burn the nest. Part of the volunteers' work is to change the public's opinion of bees, because most people consider them to be dangerous.

Ooi Leng Chye: "I think it's because urban dwellers are more afraid of bees and not so familiar with bees. So their perception is that bees are very dangerous. So the moment they see bees, they'll immediately try to find some way to remove the bees."