Honeyguides, honey-hunting, and the current state of human-honeyguide mutualism in Northern Malawi

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.