Bees Help Tackle Elephant-Human Conflict in Kenya

AFP/APP

Voi, Kenya: Bees are playing a surprising role in mitigating the elephant-human conflict in Kenya, offering a natural and effective solution to protect crops and save lives.

For Kenyan farmer Charity Mwangome, elephants were once a source of deep resentment. Living between two sections of the renowned Tsavo National Park, she often faced devastating crop losses caused by the animals.

While elephant conservation efforts have boosted their numbers in Tsavo from around 6,000 in the mid-1990s to almost 15,000 by 2021, human population growth has increasingly encroached on their grazing and migration routes, intensifying conflicts.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reports that human-elephant clashes have become the leading cause of elephant deaths. Farmers, like Mwangome, often felt abandoned when denied compensation for crop losses, fueling anger toward conservationists.

Beehive Fences: A Natural Solution

A long-running initiative by the conservation organization Save the Elephants has provided a unique answer: African honeybees.

Bright yellow beehive fences now safeguard several local farms, including Mwangome’s. These fences exploit elephants’ fear of bees, with a nine-year study showing that elephants avoided farms with hives 86% of the time during peak crop seasons.

“The beehive fences came to our rescue,” said Mwangome.

How It Works

The fences consist of 15 connected hives strung on greased wire a few meters off the ground. The design prevents access by badgers and insects while ensuring the hives shake when disturbed by elephants, triggering the bees’ defensive hum.

“Once the elephants hear the sound of the bees and the smell, they run away,” explained Loise Kawira, a consultant beekeeper with Save the Elephants.

The project supports 49 farmers, enabling them not only to protect their crops but also to harvest honey. Farmer Mwanajuma Kibula, for example, earns 450 shillings per jar of honey, helping her pay for her children’s education.

However, climate change-induced droughts and high installation costs—around 150,000 Kenyan shillings ($1,100)—pose significant hurdles for subsistence farmers.

For those unable to afford beehive fences, the organization offers alternatives such as metal-sheet fences that rattle when disturbed or rags soaked in diesel or chili, though these methods are less effective.

A Continuing Struggle

Despite these efforts, the challenges persist. Hendrita Mwalada, a farmer without a beehive fence, recounted how an elephant once destroyed her home, forcing her to hide under a bed.

“I have tried planting, but every time the crops are ready, the elephants come and destroy them,” she lamented, describing her life as a constant struggle.

While beehive fences offer hope, broader solutions are needed to address the escalating elephant-human conflict and support affected communities.