First published asháninka researcher documents traditional bee knowledge in groundbreaking scientific study

In the rich oral tradition of Peru’s Asháninka people, bees were once human spirits blessed by the gods. According to ancient legend, a generous woman who made endless supplies of masato—a traditional fermented beverage—caught the attention of Avireri, the god of creation. Amazed by her inexhaustible hospitality, he transformed her into a bee, giving birth to the stingless bees that produce the Amazon’s sweetest honey.

This sacred story has now found its way into scientific literature, thanks to Richar Antonio Demetrio, who proudly claims the distinction of being the first published Asháninka researcher. His groundbreaking study, published in Ethnobiology and Conservation in March 2025, represents the first scientific documentation of traditional ecological knowledge about stingless bees in two central Peruvian rainforest communities: Marontoari and Pichiquia.

Demetrio’s work bridges two worlds—the indigenous wisdom of the more than 50,000 Asháninka people living in Peru and Western scientific methodology. After leaving his community to pursue formal education, he returned with the tools to document and validate his people’s ancestral knowledge using scientific approaches. This research not only preserves important cultural heritage but also contributes valuable insights to our understanding of bee ecology and indigenous conservation practices in the Amazon rainforest, demonstrating how traditional knowledge can inform modern environmental science and conservation efforts.