BEEHIVE FENCES
Human-elephant conflict is now the biggest threat to elephants
Crop-raiding and farm damage caused by elephants creates conflict with farmers who lose their livelihoods within a matter of minutes. This can lead to retaliation attacks on elephants, with fatalities on both sides.
We reach conflict hotspots quickly to prevent further conflict. By listening to and working alongside the community, we help promote meaningful co-existence with elephants.
WHERE DO WE DO THIS?
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NGORONGORO ECOSYSTEM
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SERENGETI ECOSYSTEM
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RUKWA-KATAVI ECOSYSTEM
Did you know elephants have a fear of bees?
The simple co-existence technique of suspending beehives along a wire fence plays on the elephant’s innate fear of bees, to deter the herbivores from entering farms. This novel solution was first developed by Dr Lucy King at Save The Elephants. Bees target the thin areas of skin on an elephants; their ears, stomach, inside trunk and around their eyes. When elephants push the fence wire, or attempt to cross into farms, the bees are disturbed and will rush out to protect their hive and queen. When realising bees are present, elephants quickly retreat back into the forest. It works.
How it works
Farmer Zacharia’s story
For many years I had to fill my tractor with diesel every night, ready to drive away elephants, especially when crops were maturing. Since the beehive fence reached my farm, I stopped driving my tractor at night. I now only hear the elephants making noise in the forest, which is a huge relief to me and my family.”
