What Behavioral Research Can Do to Protect Elephants
Until now, only fences or ditches were considered effective in protecting East African farms from elephants. Behavioral research is opening up new, animal-friendly ways to protect the largest land animals. More on wildlife conservation worldwide.
When trying to protect farms in East Africa from elephants, it seems as though there is nothing other than enormous fences or deep ditches to keep the largest land animals at bay.
Unfortunately, building such a barrier around every field is impractical, and interactions between farmers protecting their crops frequently result in accidents or even the deaths of farmers or elephants. Zoologist Lucy King had a much smaller idea: bees.
Elephants Fear Bees
It turns out that elephants are afraid of bees, because when the insects sting the inside of their trunks, the pain is unbearable and there is nothing they can do about it. The buzzing of bees alone is enough to make elephants immediately leave the danger zone.
Lucy King wondered whether placing a reinforced beehive every 10 metres around a field would be enough to drive elephants away. A pilot program in 2009 proved successful, and shortly afterwards the Elephants and Bees Project was born.
Bee Fences in Six Countries
There are now active bee fences in Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Sri Lanka. The bees not only help pollinate crops and serve as a safe deterrent against elephants, but also generate an additional source of income for farmers, who harvest the honey and sell it locally. A fascinating example of inter-species agricultural engineering.
The Elephants and Bees Project is currently seeking funding to expand the program on a large scale.
