For many people, seeing a bee nest near their home can feel dangerous. In tropical Singapore, most residents usually call pest control teams to remove the problem quickly.

However, 42-year-old Mr. Clarence takes a different approach. He doesn’t destroy nests, he rescues and moves them.

He picks up bees from nests with just a bandana and his hands and brings them to wooden boxes. The aim is to protect the entire colony before the bees are relocated to safer areas, including young bees, worker bees and the queen bee.

Saving Millions Through Relocation

For the last six years, Mr. Clarence has been rescuing approximately 100 bee nests each year. This adds up to about 6 million bees saved through humane relocation efforts.

Instead of exterminating nests, residents can pay him between S$100 and S$500 for a rescue service. The bees are then moved to three apiaries he manages, including one located in his backyard.