When The Bees Came To Rescue: PT John’s ‘Buzzing Fence’ In Wayanad

Residents of Kuruva Island in Wayanad spend their time working in the fields, tending to their crops, and cultivating land. But once the sun sets and darkness takes over, the locals avoid stepping out of their homes. Fear of elephant attacks is a looming threat for the locals on Kuruva Island and, by extension, Kerala.

With urbanisation and the consequences of climate change, the habitats of elephants are severely impacted. But more than the general threats, it is the handmade explosives and aggressive human behaviour from forest officials and outsiders that contribute to the escalating human-animal conflicts in the region.

Read Also: Man Survives Elephant Attack At Bandipur-Wayanad Tiger Reserve

A farmers leader, social worker and an agriculturalist from Pakkam near the Islands, P. T. John, told Timeline that over 100 elephants have died from wounds inflicted by explosives and glass shrapnel. In a disturbed habitat like this, the giant creatures tend to attack humans upon perceiving a threat. Around 500 people die every year in these human-animal conflicts.

Apart from their lives being under threat, the locals, specifically the farmers of the island, are also severely impacted by their only source of income being at risk. Over 10 lakh acres of land have been affected.

With their fields being ravaged by the elephants, the story for the people ended at loss of livelihood, economic struggles, psychological trauma, or death.

Making A Beeline

Amidst all the chaos and fear, P.T. John came up with a unique solution. Getting in touch with Thanuram C. A., Midhun S. Kumar, Jackson D’Silva of a Kochi-based consultancy firm called Bblewrap, and friend Krishnan Karani, John and the team decided to use bees to resolve the issue.

After installing a 400-metre fence with 25 boxes, a beehive fence was constructed. Developed by Dr. Lucy King of Save the Elephants, beehive fencing is a sustainable method to prevent elephants from raiding crops and entering homes. Not only that, bees are super helpful in restoring the ecological balance as well, or as Midhun told Timeline, “Bees create a healthy forest.” By providing pollination to crops, they create the next generation of the forest and protect crops, resulting in higher and more consistent yields along with an additional income source for farmers.

The honey fencing in the field to prevent elephant infiltration.

A technique used extensively in many African countries for similar human-animal conflicts, John came across the method when he heard of tribal communities using the same in Wayanad by installing bee boxes.

Installation of the fence by the edible forest founder Jackson and Falgunan.

With many unsuccessful attempts, the team finally hit the jackpot by hanging bee hives (Italian bees known as Apis mellifera) along wires connected to trees and wooden poles. When an elephant tries to cross the boundary, disturbing the bee hive, aggressive bees are released, leading to the elephants retreating and gradually learning to avoid the bee-fenced regions.

Bblewrap And Project Edible Forest

During their research, the Bblewrap team visited several places where a similar honey fencing system had been implemented. However, they soon found out that these projects were always abandoned due to several reasons, such as a lack of government funds and too much effort to maintain them. While taking on the ‘Project Edible Forest,’ the team of the Kochi firm had one single question: How to make it sustainable?

Half filled water bottles above the fences to prevent ants.

“What if we look at the project as self-independent? Everybody should benefit from the village. The entire village should coexist in harmony,” said Midhun. To sustain the project and deliver benefits to the farmers, the company buys craft items such as paintings, pottery, and bamboo items made by the farmers and the locals and sells them to big brands for funding.

With the pilot project successful, Bblewrap aims to reduce human-animal conflict, empower communities, and create a “harmonious space,” ensuring a peaceful co-existence between people of all ages and flora and fauna.

Jacob from Paadashekhara Samithi standing alongside the honey fencing.

The Larger Picture

While bee boxes or honey fencing is an absolutely viable and sustainable option to prevent human-animal conflict, a closer look at the state of the animals raises several issues. Known as the “ecosystem engineers,” the elephants need to be protected along with their natural habitats. But how to do that? John has the answer: giving the land back to its rightful owners, the Adivasi community. Ensuring proper legislation so the Adivasi community can claim their forest rights is absolutely essential for the preservation of the forest and its inhabitants – flora and fauna and the residents. “Elephants are not the villains. They are also the victims,” says Midhun.