The Sundarban, the largestsingle tract ofmangrove forest in the world, is famousfor
its economically and ecologically important flora and fauna. The Sundarban ofBangladesh
is the main natural home of the giant honeybee, Apis dorsata Fabr. (Apidae : Hymenoptera).
Thebee gives honey and wax contributing to fetch handsome revenue to the national economy
and supports the livelihood of a group of resource-poor honey hunters, locally known as
‘mowalis or mowals’, living in the vicinity of the Sundarban. This paper presents author’s
observations and reviews on scientific and practical aspects of the bee, its nectarsource and
age-old honey hunting in the Sundarban. It also analyzes the constraints and prospects
with suggestions for better management of the resource based on ecological consequences
and socio-economic conditions of the people living in the adjoining areas. The paper,
highlighting the value of the bee to environment and society as a whole, is expected to be
useful to the scientists, extension workers, policy makers, planners, forest managers and aid
agencies.