Batman, Turkey: Extreme wild rock honey harvest begins

In the Gercüş district of Batman, Turkey, the traditional harvest of wild rock honey has begun in the Aydınlı village. The process involves extreme physical risk, as honeycombs are located in wasp nests within steep cliffs ranging from 50 to 600 meters in height.

Yalçın Yıldız, a physical education teacher with mountaineering training, performs the harvest as a hobby. Using professional rope systems and multiple safety stations, Yıldız descends the cliffs to extract the natural honey. He noted that while he previously descended to heights of 300 meters, he has reached depths of 600 meters this year.

The honey, valued for its medicinal properties, sells for 15,000 TL per kilogram. Yıldız emphasized the high level of danger involved, stating that the task ‘does not accept even the slightest error’ and should not be attempted without proper training and experience.