Western Cape Flooding l Thousands of beehives washed away during the flooding

The flooding in the Western Cape has caused major havoc, resulting in the death of 2 people, severely damaging infrastructure and disrupting agriculture harvests.

A major concern is the loss of an estimated several thousand beehives that were washed away during the flooding. Bees are tough little creatures, able to thrive almost anywhere - the only place in the world without beehives is Antarctica.

But as climate change brings on extreme weather patterns, temperature changes and rising sea levels, even this adaptable species is being affected.

Climate change is already contributing to declining populations of honeybees and other bee species, thanks to reduced habitats and changing patterns of plant growth over the seasons.

We are joined via Zoom by Professor Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf, from the Social Insects Research Group, at the University of Pretoria.