Abstract:
Human-wildlife conflict has received considerable attention from scientists worldwide.
Positive human-wildlife interactions, however, are much less studied, despite their
potential to better our understanding the value of coexistence. In particular rare forms of
human-wildlife cooperation provide powerful examples of successful human-wildlife
coexistence. In sub-Saharan Africa, people work together with Greater Honeyguides
Indicator indicator to find and open wild bees’ nests. Few places remain in which humans
rely on wild honey and honeyguides to find it. To date, no scientific studies have been
conducted on honey-hunting cultures with honeyguides in Malawi. This study
investigated honey-hunting with honeyguides in northern Malawi by (i) characterising
honey-hunting practices with honeyguides; (ii) describing functional components of
human-honeyguide mutualism; and (iii) identifying possible threats and causes of its
decline. To do so, 126 people were interviewed living in the vicinity of Vwaza Marsh
Wildlife Reserve and Nyika National Park. The study shows that honey-hunting with
honeyguides is still active in northern Malawi, and wild honey was found to be highly
valued for food, income, and medicine. Honey-hunters use whistles and blowing
instruments to communicate with honeyguides. Honeyguides are rewarded with wax
combs filled with larvae, which is believed to motivate further guiding. Respondents
reported a decline in honey-hunting due to three main factors: (1) fewer honeybees and
honeyguides in forests, reportedly caused by deforestation; (2) increased popularity of
beekeeping; (3) decreased interest among the youth. This study suggests that honey
hunting with honeyguides is in decline, but will likely continue to exist in northern
Malawi. Further areas of research to be pursued include investigating other honey-hunting
cultures in Malawi and evaluating the social and economic value of wild honey here.
