In Lima, a city bustling with over 10 million residents, Alfredo Santiago stands out due to his dedication to rescuing bees, a service he offers free of charge.
Alfredo Santiago, a 35-year-old former beekeeper, has transformed his skills into a volunteer service as a bee rescuer across Lima. His work involves responding to calls to remove hives found in unexpected locations such as playgrounds, graveyards, and water meter boxes.
Santiago’s motivation stems from a deep passion for protecting these vital insects. He often checks his phone for requests to remove hives from precarious places, including homes and public spaces. Once he gathers enough requests, he gears up in his beekeeper suit, arms himself with a smoker and a wooden box, and sets out across the city to safely relocate the bees.
Despite his efforts to educate the public, Santiago sometimes arrives only to find that the bees have already been killed. When successful, he transports the bees to his home on Lima’s outskirts, where he maintains over two dozen boxes housing around 400,000 bees. Here, the bees recover before being transported to the Andean forests where Santiago’s family also tends to bees.
On average, Santiago responds to about 100 removal requests annually and estimates having rescued approximately 4 million bees since starting this volunteer work in 2020. Social media has played a crucial role in spreading awareness about his services, allowing the public to reach out to him for bee rescues.
The conditions in Lima present a challenge for bee life due to limited green spaces. Santiago addresses this issue by providing a nurturing environment for recovery before relocating the bees to regions more conducive to their survival.
Santiago’s commitment is not limited to his volunteer work; it’s a family tradition. He is already considering involving his young daughter, reflecting a desire to pass down this passion through generations.
Alfredo Santiago’s tireless efforts exemplify a unique and selfless dedication to environmental preservation, showcasing the importance of each bee rescue in maintaining ecological balance.
Source: Apnews
