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Did You Know? Kangaroo Island is the oldest bee sanctuary in the world, and has been kept free of several bee diseases present elsewhere on mainland Australia and overseas. Kangaroo Island's Location The Ligurian Bee The Ligurian Bee story starts in 1884 when the South Australian Chamber of Manufacturers sent Ligurian bees to two Kangaroo Island farmers, John Buick of American River and John Turner of Smiths Bay. One year later, other Island residents received Ligurian Queen bees imported from Bologna, Italy, resulting in the South Australian parliament proclaiming Kangaroo Island a sanctuary for these unique Ligurian bees in September, 1885. In October 1885, August Fiebig began commercial queen breeding by bringing in 12 hives from the Italian province of Liguria establishing an apiary near Penneshaw. This breeding ceased operating in 1890 due to geographical isolation and difficulty, in those days, accessing the Island. Since then, no other breeds of bee have been introduced to Kangaroo Island. Because of the Island's isolation, all present-day honeybees are descendants of those 12 hives. These bees are pure Ligurian and, as such, are unique in the world. 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. Mated queen bees are regularly exported interstate and overseas. In recognition of the bee sanctuary status legislation was introduced in 1931 prohibiting the importation of bees and second-hand bee-keeping equipment to the Island. Since then, the identification of Foul Brood Disease in mainland hives has necessitated the banning of all bee products to the Island, to ensure that the Ligurian bee remains disease free.(Source: Tourism - Kangaroo Island)) |