An issue that’s made major headlines around the world over the past few years is that of human-elephant conflict. While you may not know the issue by that name, hundreds of humans and elephants are killed and displaced each year because of poaching, habitat destruction, and crop raiding.
While researching possible solutions for this problem that would allow farmers in nations like Kenya, Botswana, and Mozambique to coexist with their pachyderm neighbors, Dr. Lucy King and her team made an astute observation that eventually turned into a revolutionary project that’s saving hundreds of elephants.
As they were observing elephants in Kenya one day, Dr. King and her colleagues noticed that the creatures had an adverse reaction to the sound of bees.
They hypothesized that they could keep elephants off of local farmlands by taking advantage of that response. To put their idea to the test, they planted microphones and speakers near a family of them.
Through these speakers, they played bee sounds to see how the elephants would react. Their warning sounds were then captured by the microphones. They were thrilled when they concluded that elephants instinctively run in the opposite direction of these sounds whenever they hear them.
And that’s when the Elephants & Bees project was born.
In collaboration with Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Save the Elephants, Dr. King and her team have built numerous fences around local farms that keep elephants out without causing them any harm.
Hives like this are strung along property lines, and when elephants run into the wires between each one, the bees inside become agitated. When the elephants hear them, they run in the opposite direction.
While their work has only just begun, the researchers at Elephants & Bees are thrilled with the level of success that they’ve achieved thus far. In fact, 80% of all elephants that have attempted to raid farms protected by these fences have been successfully deterred.
For more details about this incredible project, check out the video below:
A solution to this problem is critical, as it affects the wellbeing of two of this planet’s most intelligent creatures. Many elephants have already been saved, and this dedicated team has no intention of stopping.
If you want to help Elephants & Bees continue saving these beautiful animals, please be sure to check out their website, and donate here if you can! You can also receive regular updates on Facebook.