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There’s a brief mention of a study that found that “merely playing recordings of angry bees through speakers in the field was enough to cause the elephants to flee” but it seems like that would be a far cheaper solution than putting actual beehives all over the border.
Unlike loudspeakers, beehives do in fact grow on trees; this may make them cheaper for small farmers in Africa , even if speakers and a suitable power supply may be trivially cheap for us.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unlike loudspeakers, beehives do in fact grow on trees; this may make them cheaper for small farmers in Africa , even if speakers and a suitable power supply may be trivially cheap for us.
Sure it may. But it also saddles them with a bunch of beehives that they have to maintain in perpetuity. It’s cute to think that a “natural” solution like “learn beekeeping” can solve this problem, but that warm and fuzzy feeling is for you, not the farmers in question. Practically speaking, a battery powered speaker is not going to have a higher opportunity cost for these farmers than a beehive.
If elephants are as smart as we're lead to believe they'll eventually realise its a recording. Like birds do with those fake plastic hawks.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Elephants have very sensitive ears. The buzzing of a hive is what drives them away.
>The buzzing of a hive is what drives them away. When a hive becomes queenless, it begins humming differently (demonic chords). This sound change is a good indicator (to an observant beekeeper) that it is in chaos and should be left alone. Drives mammals away — the sound is EERIE (think of a cheezy 1920's vampire movie's soundtrack).
Not to be confused with Queensrÿche which is a heavy metal band.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unlike loudspeakers, beehives do in fact grow on trees; this may make them cheaper for small farmers in Africa , even if speakers and a suitable power supply may be trivially cheap for us.
Sure it may. But it also saddles them with a bunch of beehives that they have to maintain in perpetuity. It’s cute to think that a “natural” solution like “learn beekeeping” can solve this problem, but that warm and fuzzy feeling is for you, not the farmers in question. Practically speaking, a battery powered speaker is not going to have a higher opportunity cost for these farmers than a beehive.
Other way round: They'd have to maintain the speaker system, the beehives can maintain themselves.
African bees are super mean and aggressive. I’d be afraid also.
African bees are super mean and aggressive. I’d be afraid also.
So overall don't be too worried about only one species.
But when bees swarm—and African bees swarm aggressively—hundreds of bees might sting an elephant in its most sensitive areas, like the trunk, the mouth, and eyes. It would be nice if they could form a mutual relationship with honey badgers that don't care how many times they're stung. Except therein lies the problem, honey badgers don't care about anything.
Do they not feel the sting or are they immune to the venom?