To reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC), a driver of wildlife crime, on April 15, 2024, the USAID/CWC Activity provided 250 beehives to the activity-supported community beekeeping groups to extend the beehive fence by a kilometre. This was in response to the community outcry over elephants crossing into community lands via an unsecured hotspot.
The beekeepers in Kololo village, Nyamahasa sub-county, Kiryandongo District, using the experience gained from the first beehive fence establishment, are leading the installation of the beehives on the erected poles. This intervention increases the total length of the beehive barrier to 2.1 kilometres and the total number of hives supplied to 596. Our monitoring reports show that the beehive fence is effective and deters elephants from crossing to the communities when colonized, thereby reducing crop-raiding incidents and retaliatory killings.
However, the new extension is experiencing resistance from the elephants. Last week, a herd of elephants, comprising about 25 individuals, trampled upon and destroyed forty-five concrete poles and made their way into the community space to raid crops before the installation of hives was complete. The beekeepers have now equipped themselves with vuvuzelas to scare away the elephants if they return and alerted KWR rangers to be on standby to respond to future incidents.
This intervention is made possible with the generous support of the American People through the USAID/Uganda Combating Wildlife Crime Activity.