The honey-hunting skill of the Sherdukpen community and the associated indigenous craftsmanship will fade away with the half-a-dozen subjects.
Medicinal properties
Chi means honey and Lupo is hunter in the dialect of the Buddhist Sherdukpen community, whose total population is estimated to be 4,500.
They are concentrated in 12 villages in the district.
Our people used honey collected from the wild for its medicinal properties and for preparing delicacies in the not so distant past.
Very few venture out now because of better connectivity and access to medicines and food stores and the young are not interested in learning the tough skill.
The honey-hunters followed into deep jungles at about 6,000 ft above sea level are from Thongri and Jigaon villages that are about 25 minutes’ drive from Rupa.
