SAVING ELEPHANTS WITH BEES
Why we need the bees…
African elephants are struggling to survive. They are faced with daily battles from the illegal ivory poachers and also human conflict from farmers.
Farming communities in rural Africa rely solely on their crops to survive. Harvesting a yield of crops in African conditions is challenging. When a migrating herd of hungry elephants make their way through the bushlands and plains, they are inevitably attracted to the crops as a food source. As a result, rural farming communities regularly come into conflict with elephants.
Elephants are naturally afraid of bees. Like us they have sensitive skin. Bees are clever and will target elephant eyes and trunks if they feel under attack. Hearing the hum of the bees deters elephants and they leave the area safely.
Wild Survivors is educating and encouraging farmers to build a wired fence linked to suspended beehives around their crops. When the elephants walk into the wire fence it swings the beehives and causes the bees to be agitated, thereby encouraging the elephants to move on. This is a practical, low-tech solution with a double impact. The elephants are protected and continue their migration whilst the farmers generate an additional livelihood from the honey and wax that the bees produce.
