Nature M.S. Covers his Face with 60,000 Bees World Record
A brave nature-lover has risked his life by allowing 60,000 bees to cover his face - because they 'comfort him'. Nature M.S. has been around the buzzing insects all his life because his father Sajayakumar is an award-winning beekeeper and honey maker.
He started doing stunts with bees when he was just five and now regularly lets the pollinating insects free from their boxes to gather on his face. The agricultural student, from Thrissur in Kerala, India, insists he doesn't feel their stings because they are simply 'playful bites'.
Nature insists he can even go about his daily life with the bees buzzing around his head - and can read books, walk, and even dance with them in place. He said: 'I do it because I have developed a bond with the bees and their presence comforts me.
'I cannot recall ever being without the bees. At first, I was too small to differentiate between a bee and a fly. Bees have been like flies to be - no more harmful. 'Even before I learned that they can sting I had already built a bond with them so I never feel threatened by them and the feeling is mutual.
'I have been stung by bees many times but I never felt the pain. Those were like playful bites maybe. I can handle the bees with ease. In most cases, they don't bite me. 'I have dedicated my life to the well being and protection of bees. 'Through my stunt shows, I intend to create awareness about the bees' genteelness among the public.' His father said he fell in love with bees when he was 15 and his poor family had to steal fruit and honey from neighboring farms to survive. He now has 1,500 boxes each housing 60,000 bees. He said: 'My son is well experienced.' Nature is hoping to do a doctorate or Ph.D. in Agriculture with a focus on beekeeping.
Even experienced beekeepers can suffer dangerous allergic reactions - but the risk of stings on his lips or eyelids does not worry Nature, who says he is to blame for any stings rather than the bees. He said he was first introduced to the buzzing creatures by his father Sajayakumar who is himself an award-winning beekeeper and a honey maker. Nature - who has a brother with the bee-themed name of Nectar - said his first experience of being covered by bees was when he put a queen on his hand.
He said: 'Soon a swarm of buzzing insects crowded around as they covered my arm within 15 minutes. They were on my hand in search of the queen and to protect it. The next day I tried a similar stunt with the queen on my head and within moments my entire head and face got covered.' My father's advice always comes to my mind and eliminates any nervousness or fear.
'My father always advised me to be calm with the bees and treat them like a friend. He also asked me to take deep breaths and never lose patience or give in to fear. 'Initially, it was not that easy, but I never felt awkward ever, in fact, I felt awesome. 'There was no problem with them on my face at all and I could see everything, I even did a little walk and a dance.
'Right since the very first experience, I got attached to the honeybees. Even before I learned the fact that honeybee stings are dangerous, I had developed a special bond with them.' Nature said he has been stung by the bees, but it is his fault when it happens and not theirs.
He said: 'Without any fault of mine a bee would never sting me at all.' His affection towards bees has led him to pursue academic studies in apiculture and he is currently studying for a master's at a college in Bangalore, India. He dreams of pursuing a doctorate in this field to protect the bees and learn more about them and bee rearing.
Nature said: 'Honey is the favorite and the sweetest thing in the world for humans, everyone loves to have honey. 'Bees are my best friends and I wished others too can love my friends as I do. I and my father started campaigning about bee protection and the importance of beekeeping. 'People are often scared of bees because they sting. 'Honeybees are the key insects in society, it is our duty to protect them. Without honeybees, the earth could not sustain us all.'
