Time is of the essence in this episode of the Bee Sanctuary! We were called to a property in Johannesburg to rescue a swarm nested underneath a row of decorative garden lions.

The Race Against Load Shedding

Beekeeping in South Africa comes with a unique set of hurdles, and today it was the Eskom load shedding schedule.

• The Deadline: The power was scheduled to go out at 8:00 PM.
• The Window: We had exactly one hour and fifteen minutes to complete the removal before we were plunged into total darkness.
• The Mission: This had to be an “expedited removal”—fast, efficient, and precise.

The “Lion” Rescue

Underneath the hollow concrete lions, we found exactly what we expected: a small, healthy colony that had recently established itself.

• The Extraction: We carefully lifted the lions to expose the comb. Since it was a relatively small swarm, we were able to work quickly with the bee vac to collect the workers and the queen.
• The Relocation: Every piece of brood was saved and secured into frames. Despite the ticking clock, we ensured the site was cleaned of all wax and honey to prevent future swarms from being lured back to the same spot.

Beat the Clock

We managed to pack the gear and secure the bees into the vehicle with minutes to spare before the lights went out. This successful “expedited” rescue brings us another colony closer to our 3 to 300 hive goal.

Want to see how we work under pressure?

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Quick Question: Have you ever had to finish a hive inspection or removal in a race against the clock? Let’s hear your “photo finish” stories in the comments!

How should we proceed? Would you like to see an inspection of these “Lion” bees at the Kyalami Apiary, or are you ready for our next structural rescue mission?