Saved by the bee: The unlikely solution to Africa's elephant problem

By Thomas Page, for CNN

Updated 1245 GMT (2045 HKT) August 12, 2016

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Farmers in some African countries are moving into new territories located on the elephant's natural migration routes, causing friction between man and beast -- sometimes with deadly consequences.
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Farmers in some African countries are moving into new territories located on the elephant's natural migration routes, causing friction between man and beast -- sometimes with deadly consequences.
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Exploring solutions, environmental researcher Lucy King has implemented her doctoral research, using bees as a deterrent to elephants who have in the past destroyed crops and agricultural equipment.
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Exploring solutions, environmental researcher Lucy King has implemented her doctoral research, using bees as a deterrent to elephants who have in the past destroyed crops and agricultural equipment.
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King's solution, the beehive fence, combines real and dummy beehives full of African honey bees. Triggered by a simple wire fence the hives are disturbed, swinging and releasing irate bees upon elephants.
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King's solution, the beehive fence, combines real and dummy beehives full of African honey bees. Triggered by a simple wire fence the hives are disturbed, swinging and releasing irate bees upon elephants.
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Twelve to 15 hives can protect an area between 1.5 and 2 acres -- the size of the sustenance farms King is targeting.
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Twelve to 15 hives can protect an area between 1.5 and 2 acres -- the size of the sustenance farms King is targeting.
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An elephant attempts to negotiate a beehive fence wire at night. Bees are known to sting elephants in the trunk, around the eyes and mouth.
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An elephant attempts to negotiate a beehive fence wire at night. Bees are known to sting elephants in the trunk, around the eyes and mouth.
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King's research showed 94% of the elephants she studied moved away from the source of bee sounds within 80 seconds and "will avoid live beehives at all costs."
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King's research showed 94% of the elephants she studied moved away from the source of bee sounds within 80 seconds and "will avoid live beehives at all costs."
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