In June 2017, a catastrophic wildfire ravaged the coastal towns of Knysna, Sedgefield, and Plettenberg Bay in South Africa. The inferno decimated homes and habitats, leaving an estimated 30 million Cape Honeybees dead. The fire stripped the landscape of vital vegetation and nectar sources, threatening the survival of the remaining pollinators.
Despite the immense losses, some bees, including trek swarms, persevered. They faced starvation due to the lack of forage. Humanitarian organizations like Gift of the Givers stepped in, providing emergency sugar syrup and pollen substitutes to sustain the surviving bees.
Hundreds of hive kits were donated to replace those lost by beekeepers, enabling them to rebuild and continue their essential work. After two years, the Cape Honeybee population began to stabilize. As of July 2025, the Cape Honeybee populations have not only recovered but are thriving, contributing to the regeneration of the landscape and local biodiversity.