There has been a long conflict between farmers in Kenya and wild elephants, who eat and trample their crops, making the farmers want to hunt them. This was a disaster for the conservation of the elephants, which are an endangered species.

Scientists knew from a previous study that elephants wouldn’t eat from trees that housed bee hives and that, once stung by a bee, elephants kept away. A two year trial was started, surrounding the farms with bee hives, to try to keep the elephants away. The 17 bee hives were set 10m apart, connected by wires. If an elephant tried to pass through the wires, it would disturb the hives and the bees. A swarm of angry bees is enough to send an elephant running in the other direction.

Another benefit of the bee hives is it provides another source of income for the farmers, by producing honey.

The trial has proved a success, with the elephants being kept out of the farms 93% of the time. Similar trials are being set up in Tanzania and Uganda now.