Beehive Fence: Stunningly Good Idea
Discussion
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howabou...
Telegraph said:
Beehive fence frightens away elephants
Farmers in Africa have managed to save their crops from elephants by using tiny bees to frighten some of the biggest animals on earth away.
Elephants regularly destroy food crops in Kenya, but because the huge animals are impossible to keep out with fences, locals are forced to shoot the endangered species.
Now a pilot study by Oxford University and Save the Elephants charity has found the one thing elephants seem to be scared of – bees.
Bees swarm around the elephants' eyes and up their trunks and can even kill calves, as they have thinner hides.
Even when the hives are empty the elephants remember the harm that can be caused by the insects and stay away.
Lucy King of Oxford University's Department of Zoology, said a farm protected by the beehive fence had 86 per cent fewer successful crop raids by elephants and 150 per cent fewer raiding elephants than a control farm without the fence. Farmers are also protected from cattle rustlers and can harvest the honey two or three times a year.
"Our previous research has shown that elephants are scared away by recordings of the buzzing of angry bees," she said. "We designed the beehive fence as an affordable and practical way of applying this knowledge to create a barrier that the elephants would be afraid to cross."
Stunningly good idea. Elephants win because they don't get shot. Farmers win because the elephants don't eat the crops AND they have a new product to sell. Bloody clever.Farmers in Africa have managed to save their crops from elephants by using tiny bees to frighten some of the biggest animals on earth away.
Elephants regularly destroy food crops in Kenya, but because the huge animals are impossible to keep out with fences, locals are forced to shoot the endangered species.
Now a pilot study by Oxford University and Save the Elephants charity has found the one thing elephants seem to be scared of – bees.
Bees swarm around the elephants' eyes and up their trunks and can even kill calves, as they have thinner hides.
Even when the hives are empty the elephants remember the harm that can be caused by the insects and stay away.
Lucy King of Oxford University's Department of Zoology, said a farm protected by the beehive fence had 86 per cent fewer successful crop raids by elephants and 150 per cent fewer raiding elephants than a control farm without the fence. Farmers are also protected from cattle rustlers and can harvest the honey two or three times a year.
"Our previous research has shown that elephants are scared away by recordings of the buzzing of angry bees," she said. "We designed the beehive fence as an affordable and practical way of applying this knowledge to create a barrier that the elephants would be afraid to cross."
Don said:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howabou...
If it does work then it is one of the simply lovely ideas.Telegraph said:
Beehive fence frightens away elephants
Farmers in Africa have managed to save their crops from elephants by using tiny bees to frighten some of the biggest animals on earth away.
Elephants regularly destroy food crops in Kenya, but because the huge animals are impossible to keep out with fences, locals are forced to shoot the endangered species.
Now a pilot study by Oxford University and Save the Elephants charity has found the one thing elephants seem to be scared of – bees.
Bees swarm around the elephants' eyes and up their trunks and can even kill calves, as they have thinner hides.
Even when the hives are empty the elephants remember the harm that can be caused by the insects and stay away.
Lucy King of Oxford University's Department of Zoology, said a farm protected by the beehive fence had 86 per cent fewer successful crop raids by elephants and 150 per cent fewer raiding elephants than a control farm without the fence. Farmers are also protected from cattle rustlers and can harvest the honey two or three times a year.
"Our previous research has shown that elephants are scared away by recordings of the buzzing of angry bees," she said. "We designed the beehive fence as an affordable and practical way of applying this knowledge to create a barrier that the elephants would be afraid to cross."
Stunningly good idea. Elephants win because they don't get shot. Farmers win because the elephants don't eat the crops AND they have a new product to sell. Bloody clever.Farmers in Africa have managed to save their crops from elephants by using tiny bees to frighten some of the biggest animals on earth away.
Elephants regularly destroy food crops in Kenya, but because the huge animals are impossible to keep out with fences, locals are forced to shoot the endangered species.
Now a pilot study by Oxford University and Save the Elephants charity has found the one thing elephants seem to be scared of – bees.
Bees swarm around the elephants' eyes and up their trunks and can even kill calves, as they have thinner hides.
Even when the hives are empty the elephants remember the harm that can be caused by the insects and stay away.
Lucy King of Oxford University's Department of Zoology, said a farm protected by the beehive fence had 86 per cent fewer successful crop raids by elephants and 150 per cent fewer raiding elephants than a control farm without the fence. Farmers are also protected from cattle rustlers and can harvest the honey two or three times a year.
"Our previous research has shown that elephants are scared away by recordings of the buzzing of angry bees," she said. "We designed the beehive fence as an affordable and practical way of applying this knowledge to create a barrier that the elephants would be afraid to cross."
You've also forgotton that Glaxo will benefit from the massive increase in demand for anti-histamines from the locals.
Telegraph said:
and 150 per cent fewer raiding elephants than a control farm without the fence.
Can they have more than 100% fewer raiding elephants? Does that figure mean there are actually elephants now planting and helping maintain the crops? Cracking idea though, will probably work with chavs and Labour party canvassers too.
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