Australian Bee Sanctuary - Amazing Bees - Beekeepers from Melbourne Australia

The Ligurian Bee Sanctuary - Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is the world's oldest bee sanctuary and is home to the only pure strain of Ligurian Bee in the world (so they say).

Sourced from the Italian province of Liguria, the Ligurian Bee was introduced to Kangaroo Island in 1884. The Ligurian bee was named after its origin in the Ligurian Alps in the days of the Roman Empire. Roman historians praised its docility and productivity. The scientific name of this species is Apis mellifera ligustica .

Kangaroo Island was declared a bee sanctuary in 1885. No other bees have since been imported to the Island. Kangaroo Island remains home to the purest strain of bee in the world.

Kangaroo Island's geographic isolation from mainland Australia has also enabled the Island to remain free of several bee diseases present on mainland Australia. To maintain this protection all honey, pollen, used beekeeping tools and equipment are prohibited from being brought to the Island.

Ligurian bees are renowned for their gentle nature and productivity. These characteristics, and the purity of the strain, make them a valuable genetic pool for breeding purposes.

Highly productive, Ligurian bees supply a very high quality honey, mostly exported interstate and overseas.

Sources:
1. TrekEarth - Learning about the world through photography - 2. flickr - 3. Hog Bay Apiary

4. ABC Landline - 5. Island Beehive - 6. Kangeroo Island Agricultural History - 7. Clifford's Honey Farm


However, there seem to be critics claiming that Kangaroo Island bees are not pure strain ... (link to source)