Project RE-HAB [Reducing Elephant Human Attacks using Bees]

Human-animal conflicts are a major issue in many parts of the country with ramifications both for the humans and the animals involved. This affects both the economy as well as the ecology of a place, not to mention the avoidable loss of lives. In this context, the Project RE-HAB was launched in Karnataka in March 2021. It is now going to be implemented across the country. In this article, you can read all about Project RE-HAB for the UPSC exam.

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What is Project RE-HAB?

Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) was launched in Karnataka on a pilot basis in March 2021.

• The main objective of the project is to repel elephant attacks on human habitations using honey bees thereby reducing the loss of human and elephant lives.
• The idea behind the initiative is to thwart elephant forays into areas where humans reside by placing ‘bee-fences’ strategically.
• The pilot was done at four locations around village Chelur in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. The region is a part of the Nagarhole National Park. The area is prone to human-wildlife conflicts.
• The project has been launched by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
  • This project is a sub-mission under the National Honey Mission. Read more about the Honey Mission and the Sweet Revolution in the link.
• How does it work?
  • Under this project, KVIC has kept 15 to 20 bee boxes interspersed at each of the locations.
  • The bee boxes are connected to each other by a string so that when an elephant passes through, the string is tugged and the swarm of bees comes out. This dissuades the elephants from foraying further into the area where people live.
  • Elephants have a strong memory. Hence, they will remember this bee attack and probably not venture into that area again.
  • Thus, it dissuades elephants from entering the human area without causing them any harm apart from annoyance.
  • The bee boxes are placed on the ground and also hung from trees.
  • KVIC has also placed night vision cameras in the areas so that they can capture the events.

In April 2021, the Union MSME Minister announced that Project RE-HAB will be implemented in all the states facing human-elephant conflicts such as Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

Project RE-HAB Benefits & Significance

The project can be quite helpful in mitigating human-elephant conflicts. It is estimated that almost 500 people die every year due to elephant attacks. This is ten times the number of people who fall prey to big cats. From 2015 to 2020, nearly 2500 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks. Also, about 500 elephants have also died from these conflicts in the past five years.

Advantages of the Project

• Mitigates human-elephant conflicts without causing elephants any harm.
• Very cost-effective compared to traditional methods such as erecting fences or digging trenches. 
• It is also a much better and humane method of preventing elephants from entering villages near forest areas than placing fruit laced with bombs as some people have been reported to have done.
• This initiative will also lead to increased honey production and help in enhancing farmers’ incomes.
• It will also avoid crop losses.

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