Metalsmith turned beekeeper gives bees a second chance in Chile
STORY: In the Chilean coastal town of Vina del Mar, metalsmith Angel Nieto rescues bees that typically build their hives in populated areas of the city and its suburbs.
Nieto told Reuters he started rescuing the hives after receiving a call from the firefighters last year.
“We basically protect [the bees], take care of them, take care of the environment. It’s basically that.”
During the rescues, the volunteer beekeeper does not use traditional gear like gloves or a hat with a protecting net. Instead, he grabs the hives with his bare hands and puts the bees into wooden beehives. Then, he takes the bees to a space built just for them.
“Here they are calm, free you could say. They are not aggressively treated or harmed. They are respected.”
Scientists say the bee population in Chile is endangered by pesticides and global warming. Across the Americas, extreme weather has devastated colonies, threatening harvests and pushing up the costs of food.
