The Elephants and Bees Project is an innovative study using an in-depth understanding of elephant behaviour to reduce damage from crop-raiding elephants using their instinctive avoidance of African honey bees. The project explores the use of novel Beehive Fences as a natural elephant deterrent creating a social and economic boost to poverty-stricken rural communities through pollination services and the sustainable harvesting of “Elephant-Friendly Honey”.
Save the Elephants focus on research, education, grass-roots conservation, monitoring and protection and are involved in projects across Africa in Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, South Africa and Mali.
Research projects range from investigations into the dynamics of elephant society at a molecular level to ranging behaviour of savannah, forest and desert elephants using high-tech Global Positioning System collars. We are at the forefront of developing technology to track and interpret elephant movements, providing vital information for land-use management plans aimed at reducing conflict with humans whilst allowing elephants continued access to vital parts of their range. We are involved in surveys to measure population trends, elephant mortality and ivory trade, providing systematic and factual information used by CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) to ascertain the conservation status of the African elephant. For more information please refer to our overall organisation website savetheelephants.org.
Dr Lucy King, MSc, Dphil., Elephants and Bees Project Leader, Save the Elephants, P.O. Box 54667, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Phone: +254 (0)720 441178
E-mail: lucy@savetheelephants.org
Website: savetheelephants.org
Coordinates
P.O. Box 54667, Nairobi 00200, Kenya