The Elephants and Bees Research Project is one of Save the Elephants’ innovative programs designed to explore the natural world for solutions to human-elephant conflict. Core to our Human-Elephant-Coexistence mission is the study of effective farmer-managed deterrents and cost-efficient methods to help reduce conflict, and we recognise the need to find sustainable solutions to enable elephants to coexist with the communities with whom they share their land.

Using elephants' instinctive avoidance of honey bees, the team has designed and implemented “Beehive Fences” to help protect local farmers' from elephant crop-raiding. As an added bonus, farmers are also gaining social and economic boosts through selling the "Elephant-Friendly Honey!"

Since its inception in 2007, the project has expanded immensely.  Through elephant monitoring and research within the Tsavo ecosystem, we are gaining a deeper understanding for human-elephant conflict and coexistence efforts, and our Mobile Outreach Unit has since developed to provide beehive fence support to other HEC sites in Kenya. Through our Community and Livelihoods program we are helping economically empower farmers in Sagalla, as well as studying alternatives to help building livelihood resilience and promote tolerance for elephants.  

We rely entirely on charitable donations from caring individuals and research grants to run our programs and expand the Elephants and Bees concept to other sites across Africa and Asia.   Please help us protect farmers on the frontline and donate to help support us today!