A 24-year-old Indian beekeeper says that thousands of bees do not see him as a threat. He even made friends with him and lets them cover his face.
Known as Nature M.S., he says that he has been keeping bees on his face since he was seven years old, which impresses his friends in Kerala.
He currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest time of his head being fully covered by bees at an astonishing four hours, 10 minutes, and five seconds.
A Bee Expert Ever Since He Was a Child
Nature M.S. was first introduced to the buzzing creatures by his father, who is also an award-winning beekeeper and honey maker. He even has a brother whose name is inspired from the bees- Nectar.
The risk of getting stung by bees on his lips and eyelids does not bother Nature, even if experienced beekeepers can also suffer dangerous allergic reactions because of the bees. He said that if ever he gets stung, it would be his fault rather than the bees.
His first experience of being covered by the bees was when he tried putting a queen on his hand. "Soon, a swarm of buzzing insects crowded around as they covered my arm within 15 minutes," Nature said.
He added: "They were on my hand in search of the queen and to protect it. The next day I tried a similar stunt with the queen on my head, and within moments my entire head and face got covered."
Nature would always remember his father's advice to eliminate nervousness or fear and to be calm with the bees and treat them like a friend. Additionally, his father told him to take deep breaths and never lose patience or give in to fear.
As expected, the first try was not that easy, but Nature recalled that it never felt awkward, but instead, he felt awesome when the bees first covered him. He said that there was no problem with the bees on his face since he could still see and even did a little walk and a dance.
"Right since the very first experience, I got attached with the honeybees. Even before I learnt the fact that honeybee stings are dangerous, I had developed a special bond with them," says Nature.
Read Also: Two New Specimens of Murder Hornets Have Turned Up: Here's What We Know so Far and What We Don't
Nature's Love for the Bees
According to Nature, he has stung by the bees, but it is his fault when it happens. He said that if he did not commit any mistake while handling them, they would not sting him.
Nature's love for the bees has led him to pursue a career in apiculture, and he is currently taking up a master's degree at a college in Bangalore, India.
It is his dream to pursue a doctorate in this field to help protect the bees and learn more about the insects and techniques of rearing them.
He believes that honey is the favorite and sweetest thing for humans, as everyone loves to have honey. Nature considers the bees as his best friend and wished that others could also love the bees as much as he does.
He and his father started campaigning about bee protection and the importance of beekeeping. People are often scared of bees because of their stings, but these insects play a significant role in the ecosystem, and without them, the Earth could not sustain human life, says Nature.
Read More: No Pollen? No Problem! Bees Puncture Plant Leaves to Accelerate Flower Production