Bees protect people and wildlife in Malawi
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In Malawi, people near Kasungu National Park are using beehives to deter elephants from damaging their homes and crops.
Elephants frequently leave the 2,300 square kilometer park to search for food, sometimes entering villages and destroying property like Christine Banda’s home. Banda initially tried scaring the elephants with noise, but later hung beehives to take advantage of the animals’ fear of bee stings, elephants have sensitive skin, particularly around their eyes and trunks.
While the beehives offered some protection, Banda and others are now pursuing beekeeping as a source of income. Imker Charles Simuhango travels to villages near the park to teach residents how to safely manage beehives and harvest honey, a process that can take a year to become profitable. The IFAW organization supports these efforts, recognizing that climate change and a lack of jobs push people to rely on park resources, leading to deforestation and poaching.
The initiative extends into the national park itself, with experienced beekeepers harvesting honey from hives under the supervision of park rangers. By providing an alternative livelihood, the project aims to reduce the incentive for poaching and protect both wildlife and local communities. Banda reports that the income from beekeeping has already allowed her family to afford food and livestock.
