Helping bees get to blossoms

As a company, the bee population would be for sure a “global player,” given its estimated contribution to the global food production of $265 to $577 billion – impressive productivity, especially considering the breadth of their task.

Several bee populations across Germany have roots in the Rhineland. Willich, not far from Düsseldorf, is home to a breeding station for Buckfast queen bees. Here, royalty is born to help keep nature in balance. But how do queen bees travel from breeders to other breeders and beekeepers? 

You could call it a royal delivery.

DHL Express is an expert in transporting all kinds of animals, from large manatees to endangered rhinos to honeybees. The company’s certified logistics experts know how to handle both the sturdiest and the most fragile members of the animal kingdom. 

Last year alone, DHL Express shipped nearly three hundred young queens from Willich to beekeepers and other breeders around Germany – safely tucked in and provisioned with a day’s worth of food and water.

“When any type of animal or insect is shipped, speed, safety and animal welfare are key,” says Markus Detert, Station Manager in Düsseldorf, where the bees make a short stop along their journey. From there, the queens reach their destinations across Germany within 24 hours.

“Custom packaging makes sure not only that the queens are safe, but also our employees,” emphasizes Markus.

For the 2020 bee season, DHL Express has already handled the transportation of over 30 queens. In Germany this summer, each will be launching a colony of up to 50,000 bees. And they will be as busy as ever.

But what keeps them so busy? On the DPDHL Living Logistics podcast, you can learn about how the bees add value, how beekeeping and environmentalism go hand in hand and more insights into the bee world. It might change the way you see them – not just on World Bee Day. — Thomas Rauffmann and Krisjanis Polans
 

Published: May 2020

Images: iStock