Field report by Ewan Brennan, Mobile Unit Leader & Project Logistics Manager Human-elephant conflict is always a complex problem. Factors such as land history, farming practices, education, geography and rainfall can all interplay to result in a dynamic and dangerous conflict scenario that can be detrimental to the balance of both communities and elephants living together in peace. Elephant impacts on livelihoods, food security and personal safety can understandably lead to…

Report by our Community and Livelihoods Research Assistant, Victor Ndombi Forest cover in Kenya stands at about 6.8%, for us to achieve UN recommended 10% cover, we have to plant more trees and avoid illegal logging. Charcoal burning is the main source of livelihoods to many communities in Kenya, but have we thought of its negative impacts on the ecosystem and environment as a whole? The cutting down of trees…

Report by our Community and Livelihoods Research Assistant, Victor Ndombi During my time as a community livelihood and conflict reduction intern, I came to learn how agriculture, women empowerment and elephant conservation go hand in hand in a community. It is popular opinion that agriculture and elephant conservation are mutually exclusive but if done right, these different and seemingly opposing concepts can be integrated, to work together.  Women empowerment On…

Report written by our international intern, Charlotte de Wolff By now you are probably aware that farmers in Sagalla are affected by human-elephant conflict, experiencing recurrent crop raids by elephants at night, which affects their household supplies for the season. Elephants would stamp on crops and feed on them, leaving a small percentage of crops to the farmers. Men and women work together to deter elephants and both work on…

Field Report from E&B Mobile Unit Education Officer, Naiya Raja Simon’s gate, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy   Last month, the Elephants and Bees Mobile Unit Team hustled and bustled our beehives, packed the vehicles with supplies, and ventured up to Lewa, north of the foothills of Mount Kenya. A catalyst for Kenyan conservation, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has provided a secure habitat for multiple wildlife species, helping provide creative solutions for community…

Field Blog by Kenyan Intern Derick Wanjala Elephant tracking After elephants crop raid, crop raid assessment and tracking has to be done immediately. We work in Mwambiti and Mwakoma villages, both in Beehive fence farmers and Non-beehive fence farmers. We use GPS to record the tracks, while in the field we also do dung boli assessment which helps us to determine digestion status and sex of the elephant. Footprint assessment…

Field Report from Research Assistant, Granton Tumaini Honey Badger incidents have been so frustrating to the beehive fence farmers both in Mwambiti and Mwakoma villages. Our MSc student from Hunter College, Abi Johnson, published her results showing that cages when placed over a beehive can reduce the hive being attacked by a honey badger. This study by Abi helped the Elephants and Bees Project to secure a grant through the…

Blog by International Intern, Blaise Ebanietti I had the amazing opportunity to join both Dr. Lydia Tiller and Naya Raja on my first expedition to Tsavo West National Park! Our mission was to locate and monitor Save the Elephants collared elephants in the Tsavo Conservation Area. Last February, Save the Elephants collared 20 at risk elephants throughout a five-day operation. This project was a collaboration between Save the Elephants, Kenyan…

Blog by E&B Project School and Education Programs Officer, Kennedy Leneuyia Indigenous knowledge has been utilized across generations through story telling that include folk roles and myths. The insights shared have been vital in bringing transformation of perspectives among communities. As a result, societies across have been willing to appreciate both nature and endowed heritage therefore safeguarding the future of environment and wildlife. In turn, benefits have been realized in…

Report written by our International Intern: Christine Phelan Supplementary Reading:“Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania” by Dale Zimmerman Supplementary Listening:“Littlest Birds” by The Be Good Tanyas Early mornings at the Elephants & Bees Research Center are generally quiet save for the chatter of birds. They often wake me before my alarm signals the start of each day and the birds sing with gusto, as though to pull sunrise from deep…