We are delighted to have a new paper on wax-eating behaviour by honeyguides and other animals published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. In this study we used camera traps to investigate which animals, other than honeyguides, fed on wax made available from the human-honeyguide mutualism, and whether larger animals feeding on this unusual food undermined the mutualism by depriving the honeyguide of its reward. Our camera trapping revealed nine wax-eating species, five of which were not previously known to consume wax. We expected that these wax-competitors could negatively affect wax availability for honeyguides, but instead found that these competitors likely stabilize the mutualism by shifting the benefits toward the early-arriving or guiding birds. A video abstract including clips of wax-eating behaviour is available on Youtube, and further media coverage can be found at New Scientist. We are also thrilled for our co-author, honey-hunter and long-term collaborator from Mbamba village, Orlando Yassene, as this is his first publication.
Tragic attacks in the Niassa Special Reserve, Mozambique
On 29 April 2025, armed insurgents attacked the Mariri Environmental Centre in Mozambique’s Niassa Special Reserve, resulting in the tragic loss of two anti-poaching scouts, Domingos Daude and Fernando Paolo Wirsone (please see statement from the Niassa Carnivore Project). This followed a prior tragic attack at Kambako Safari camp on 19 April. Mariri and the nearby village of Mbamba are at the heart of our work on human-honeyguide cooperation, made possible by the knowledge and partnership of the Mbamba honey-hunting community. We grieve alongside the people of Mariri, Mbamba, and the wider Niassa community, and stand in solidarity with the enduring spirit of conservation and unity.