Developing and evaluating a beehive fence deterrent through stakeholder involvement

​FAO; IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Specialist Group;

Developing and evaluating a beehive fence deterrent through stakeholder involvement

Autores

FAO; IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Specialist Group;

Editor

FAO ;

Descripción

The case study comes from Kenya, the Elephants and Bees Project, which is part of Save the Elephants' Human-Elephant Coexistence Programme, based in Sagalla, next to Tsavo East National Park in southern Kenya. The case study highlights the process undertaken since 2001 to understand the effect honey bees had on elephants and to develop, evaluate and implement beehive fences at several sites in Kenya, from initial research-based studies on the effect of bees on elephants to the establishment of the Elephants and Bees Project. The project ensured that an evidence base for the beehive fence had been made to determine its functional efficacy while understanding the impacts in the region by elephants and the farmers' activity patterns meant it could be implemented correctly.The project worked with farmers who actively wanted to implement beehive fences. This was important as beehive fences require regular maintenance and they need the correct ecological components to be successful.