Beehive fences as a sustainable local solution to human‐elephant conflict in Thailand. Issue 10 (20th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van de Water, Antoinette; King, Lucy E.; Arkajak, Rachaya; Arkajak, Jirachai; van Doormaal, Nick; Ceccarelli, Viviana; Sluiter, Liesbeth; Doornwaard, Suzan M.; Praet, Vera; Owen, David; Matteson, Kevin
• Is Part Of: Conservation science and practice. Volume 2:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-20
• Subjects: asian elephants -- beehive fence -- camera‐traps -- citizen science -- coexistence -- crop raiding -- human dimensions -- human‐elephant conflict -- sustainability; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation; Periodicals; 333.951605
• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.260
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-4854

Abstract

Abstract: As human‐elephant conflict (HEC) increases, a better understanding of the human dimensions of these conflicts and non‐violent mitigation methods are needed to foster long‐term coexistence. In this study, we conducted household questionnaires ( n = 296) to assess the prevalence of HEC and attitudes towards elephants in four rural villages in Thailand. In addition, we evaluated a pilot beehive fence as a sustainable solution for HEC. The majority of the households reported seeing or hearing elephants near their property at least once a week (84.9%) and experienced negative impacts from elephants in the last 5 years, (81.0%). The beehive fence deterred 88.4% of individual elephants ( n = 155) and 64.3% of elephant groups ( n = 28) that approached the fence. Most elephants (70.7%) exhibited behaviors suggesting heightened attentiveness or alarm. The farm owner reported economic and social benefits of the beehive fence. By contributing to farmer income and reducing crop damage caused by wild elephants, beehive fencing may provide an important locally‐managed complement to regional HEC mitigation methods.