Kenyan beekeepers help reduce human-Elephant conflicts
An innovative project using honeybees to deter elephants is helping reduce conflicts between farmers and wildlife in Kenya's Tsavo region. A nine-year study has shown that farms protected by beehive fences experience 86 percent fewer elephant incursions.
The initiative, led by charity Save the Elephants, installs connected beehives around farmers' plots, taking advantage of elephants' natural aversion to African honeybees. The project currently supports 49 farmers, with each protected area requiring 15 interconnected hives.
The scheme addresses growing tensions caused by Kenya's conservation success, with Tsavo's elephant population increasing from 6,000 in the mid-1990s to nearly 15,000 in 2021. This growth, combined with human expansion into traditional elephant territories, has led to increasing conflicts.
While effective, the solution faces challenges including high installation costs of 150,000 Kenyan shillings (£1,100) per fence and climate-related issues affecting bee populations. The charity also offers alternative deterrents such as metal-sheet fences and chilli-soaked rags for farmers who cannot afford beehives.
Participating farmers benefit from both crop protection and honey sales, earning 450 shillings per jar to help cover school fees.
Source: RTL Today
