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In China’s Yunnan, two children died after a yellow-legged hornet attack. Beekeeper Li was charged with negligent homicide, prompting a regional ban on hornet farming.
Image used for representational purpose only (Credit: Pixabay)
In a tragic incident, a brother-sister duo in China’s Yunnan province lost their lives after being stung hundreds of times by wasps, leading local authorities to charge a beekeeper with negligent homicide.
According to a report in South China Morning Post, the incident happened on June 28 in Muding County, where a seven-year-old boy and his two-year-old sister were playing near pine woods under the care of their grandmother.
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While trying to rescue the children during the attack, the grandmother was also stung multiple times.
The younger child, a girl, suffered over 700 stings and died at the scene. Her brother, who suffered more than 300 stings, was hospitalised but passed away the following day. Their father told SCMP that the children were stung all over their bodies, with no area left untouched.
Authorities later identified the wasps as yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), which were being kept by a local farmer, surnamed Li. He had been raising the hornets for their chrysalises, considered a delicacy in the region. After the attack, Li gave the family 40,000 yuan in compensation.
Investigations revealed that Li had been farming the hornets for two years without notifying the forestry department, a violation of local regulations. He was briefly detained, later released on bail, and has since exterminated all the hornets in his possession.
Following the incident, authorities have banned the farming of yellow-legged hornets and begun inspecting beekeeping operations throughout the region to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
China
September 13, 2025, 23:23 IST
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