🐘🇰🇪🐝 Beehive fences keep elephants at bay on Kenyan farms, boost farmer income, a study shows
The nine-year called Impact of drought and development on the effectiveness of beehive fences as elephant deterrents over 9 years in Kenya analyzed the behavior of elephants around 26 farms near Tsavo East National Park. Researchers recorded nearly 4,000 incidents of elephants approaching the farms and found that beehive fences deterred an annual average of 76% of these raids. The fences are composed of live beehives strung between posts, creating a formidable barrier that elephants, with their natural aversion to bees, are reluctant to cross.
💬 “Beehive fences are very effective at reducing up to 86.3% of elephant crop‐raids during peak crop seasons after good rainfall,” the paper read.
However, environmental challenges such as drought have affected the fences’ long-term effectiveness and the honey production that provides extra income to farmers. During the 2017 drought, hive occupation dropped by 75%, impacting honey yields and profits.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸
The nine-year called Impact of drought and development on the effectiveness of beehive fences as elephant deterrents over 9 years in Kenya analyzed the behavior of elephants around 26 farms near Tsavo East National Park. Researchers recorded nearly 4,000 incidents of elephants approaching the farms and found that beehive fences deterred an annual average of 76% of these raids. The fences are composed of live beehives strung between posts, creating a formidable barrier that elephants, with their natural aversion to bees, are reluctant to cross.
💬 “Beehive fences are very effective at reducing up to 86.3% of elephant crop‐raids during peak crop seasons after good rainfall,” the paper read.
However, environmental challenges such as drought have affected the fences’ long-term effectiveness and the honey production that provides extra income to farmers. During the 2017 drought, hive occupation dropped by 75%, impacting honey yields and profits.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
🔸 Sputnik Africa 🔸