Bees on Guard: Tiny Insects Protect African Giants

Bees on guard - tiny insects protect african elephants

African Forest Elephant: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

GoFundMe

Please help us help bees protect Uganda's elephants

• $42 provides a new bee suit
• $6 buys a new pair of gloves
• $13 is the cost of a new pair of boots
• $12 provides a high-quality smoker
• $150 pays for 3 farmer-beekeepers  to participate in a day-long apiary management workshop

African Honey Bee: Apis mellifera scutellata

Are you fascinated by bees? Do you love elephants? The Kasiisi Project Citizen Science project "Bees on Guard" contributes to the conservation of both these species around Kibale National Park, Uganda in partnership with local beekeeping co-operatives, the Busiriba Beekeeping and Conservation Association and Conservation to Coexist.
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Elephants are magnificent and  fascinating, but also enormously destructive, bringing them into frequent conflict with their human neighbors. When faced with the destruction of an entire maize crop, subsistence farmers, struggling to make ends meet, are not supporters of elephant conservation.

Helping bees survive the wet season - Feeding hives in "Bee Fences" along Kibale Forest boundary

This is where bees come in. African honey bees, tiny as they are, have ferocious stings and elephants avoid them. When farmers string beehives along wires, forming "Bee Fences" to defend their fields, elephants look elsewhere for food. But in order to deter elephants bee colonies need to be strong and healthy, a challenge during the wet season.

 Active apiaries require regular maintenance and  dealing with bees fierce enough to drive off elephants requires the right equipment, with costs beyond the reach of these beekeepers. This  is where you can help. You will be in great company. National Geographic, Akron Zoo and Oklahoma City Zoo have all assisted us in  getting this program off the ground,  but now we need to reach more farmers.
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We are running a GoFundMe campaign to raise the money needed to train and equip 15 more beekeeper associations so that their  apiaries support healthy bee colonies, produce honey to supplement family incomes, and are active enough to save the lives of elephants.

• Please Click here to make a donation.

​If you wish to make your donation a gift we can help there too. Just e-mail us at ​elizabethaross@me.com and we can send your recipient a card.

Checking Beehives armed against the stings