Beekeepers guard hives overnight in Qandil mountains after bear attacks

PSHDAR — Beekeepers in the Pshdar and Bitwen areas, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, have begun guarding their hives overnight in the Qandil mountain range due to repeated bear attacks.

Cold temperatures in the mountains have pushed the beekeepers to light fires at night as they monitor the hives.

Asaad Khidr Sinamoki, a well-known beekeeper in the area, said, “This year, bears have attacked the hives several times in some areas — up to 60 hives in one location, and 10 to 12 in others.”

He added that he and his colleagues take turns standing guard with a rifle but only to make the bears move away if they approach and do not intend to harm or kill them.

“Due to the increasing number of bears and the danger they pose to our hives, we’re forced to stay overnight or assign someone to guard them,” Sinamoki said.

The Kani Shinka mountains, part of the Qandil range, host the highest number of beehives in the area.

In the past two years, three bear deaths have been reported in the Balakayati and Qandil regions. The first occurred on Oct. 15, 2023, near the village of Qirnaqaw, where a dead bear was found near the roadside. The Qandil municipality at the time suggested poisoning was suspected, possibly linked to beekeepers.

The second case was reported on Aug. 13, 2024 in Balakayati, where a rare brown bear was found shot. The third incident took place in May this year between Qandil and Balakayati, where another dead bear was found, with a bullet wound visible on its body.

Earlier, Hazhar Mahir, head of the Soran Environmental Directorate, told 964media that killing a bear is punishable by a fine of up to 20 million IQD ($14,140) in addition to imprisonment.