Sweet tourism boost for T’ganu
Six islands show promise as stingless bee havens
KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of six popular islands in Terengganu show great potential as kelulut (stingless bee) honey farm locations and also as ecotourism destinations.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s (UMT) kelulut and bee research group head Associate Prof Dr Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak said the six islands, namely Pulau Bidong, Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Lang Tengah, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Tenggol, show great promise as kelulut honey farming industry centres in the state.
He said this was based on the recent kelulut mapping works carried out by 22 researchers from various fields on several islands around the waters of Terengganu recording species of kelulut bees on the islands and their suitability for breeding.
“We found two unique species on Tenggol Island, one of which is Tetrogonula Laevicepsand, another species that we are still in the process of identifying.
“We are currently studying the island’s suitability for kelulut honey farming as the species found on the island are different from those on the mainland,” he said.
Shamsul Bahri said UMT would offer its expertise to the community and chalet operators on the islands who were interested in developing kelulut honey farms as an ecotourism attraction.
“Kelulut honey farming is relatively easy as the bees do not sting.
“Furthermore, it does not take too long to see results, usually about one month.
“Kelulut honey farming can also be developed as a source of income as well as to serve as tourist attrac- tion for the resort or chalet operators,” he said.
He said that so far only the residents of Pulau Redang had taken on a kelulut honey farming project, but added that he would monitor interest in the project from time to time.