BKSDA Explains Thousands of Bees Crossing the Bali Mandara Toll Road

BALI - The Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) revealed that the pancaroba triggered the migration of bee swarms that crossed the Bali Mandara Toll in Denpasar on Sunday afternoon.

"Pancaroba, heat and wind can trigger the movement of bee colonies to more favorable places (supporting)," said Head of the Bali BKSDA Ratna Hendratmoko in Denpasar, Sunday.

According to him, in entomological studies, bees have mechanisms for adapting to environmental changes including changes in weather and body temperature which depend on environmental conditions.

The relocation of the bee colony is aimed at finding a new nest which is estimated because the old nest does not support, for example, changes in environmental conditions including temperature, humidity or disturbances.

"This phenomenon can also be studied in an ecological perspective as a form of organism response to ecosystem dynamics," he said.

He has also consulted with academics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA) of Udayana University, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Putu Eswaryanti regarding the movement of the honey-producing insects.

In addition, he continued, the Bali Mandara Toll is close to the Ngurah Rai mangrove forest area in Benoa Bay which is the natural habitat of insects such as bees that use the nectar from mangrove flowers.

Meanwhile, the infrastructure of the Bali Mandara Toll Building, one of which is the underpass, provides protection from rain, strong winds, extreme temperature changes, and minimal interference from predators, making it potentially an ideal place to make a nest.

"This phenomenon is not strange but part of the process of bees adapting to environmental changes and generally takes place in a short time," he said.

Ratna also said there were no reports of casualties or serious injuries due to the impact of the bee migration on motorists, especially motorcyclists who passed through the Bali Mandara Toll on Sunday afternoon.

Previously, a number of motorcyclists on the motorcycle lane suddenly stopped because a swarm of bees passed by.

Toll officers were also seen regulating traffic on motorcycle lanes that had been stalled because drivers had to stop the vehicle.

"For the time being, there are no reports of casualties or serious injuries due to the incident and traffic conditions remain under control despite the slowdown in vehicle speeds," he said.

He appealed to the public to remain calm and not panic, reduce speed when crossing the affected area and use personal protective equipment, especially for motorcyclists.

In addition, do not take actions that can trigger bee aggressiveness, such as disturbing or trying to drive away the swarm.