Credit: Erik Mandre/shutterstock ; youtube
A Turkish beekeeper had an unusual problem. Bears kept raiding his hives and eating his honey. The damage was costly. The bees produced honey he worked hard to harvest. But the bears seemed to love it even more.
The beekeeper, Ibrahim Sedef, tried many ways to keep the bears away. Metal cages were placed around the hives. Bread, fruit, and other foods were set out as distractions. None of it worked. The bears kept coming back for more.
Key Takeaways
- A beekeeper in Trabzon, Turkey struggled with bears raiding his honey hives night after night.
- He decided to set up a taste test with different types of honey to see which the bears preferred.
- The bears consistently chose the expensive Anzer honey first, over other honeys and even jam.
- The story became an internet favorite because of the bears’ unexpected “taste buds” and the beekeeper’s humorous solution.
Finally, Sedef got an idea that was part experiment and part peace offering. Instead of just fighting the bears, he set out a table with four different kinds of honey, including rare Anzer, chestnut, flower, and even cherry jam, and let the bears choose. Cameras were set up to record what happened at night.
What followed was striking. Night after night, the bears, particularly one large bear nicknamed “Big Boy”, went straight for the Anzer honey, ignoring the cheaper and more ordinary options. They didn’t even touch the cherry jam, which showed just how selective they were.
Anzer honey is not ordinary. It comes from the Anzer plateau in northeastern Turkey, where dozens of rare flowers grow. Because of this unique nectar mix, it has become a world-famous and very expensive honey, often costing hundreds of dollars per pound.
Even though the experiment didn’t stop the bears completely, it gave Sedef a new perspective. Watching the footage, he sometimes forgot about the damage the bears had done. He developed a surprising appreciation for these furry visitors and their refined taste for quality honey.
Bears are known to love honey, just look at Winnie the Pooh, but this real-life field test brought that image to life in a funny and unusual way. And while the story is lighthearted, it also offered a peek into how wildlife and humans sometimes find unexpected ways to coexist.
If delightful and unexpected stories like this make you smile, you’ll enjoy what we share at Simply Wholesome. Our site brings you heartwarming, curious, and uplifting stories from around the world alongside thoughtful content that celebrates connection, nature, and everyday wonder.
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