35-year-old farmer, Kantilal Chakma, has worked hard every day, growing crops to feed his family in Teknaf, Bangladesh. But there was a constant threat: elephants. Driven by hunger and the shrinking forests, they would often wander into his farmland, destroying his crops and leaving him with nothing. Each visit felt like a blow to his hopes and dreams for a better future. Despite his efforts to protect his land, the elephants kept coming back, taking away his hard work.
Everything changed when Kantilal heard about the beehive natural fencing and farming initiative by IUCN Bangladesh, in partnership with UNHCR with support from UNHCR’s Environment and Climate Action Innovation Fund. The initiative trains farmers in beekeeping, harnessing bees as a natural repellent to deter elephants, who instinctively avoid hives.
Kantilal decided to give it a try. He started with one beehive and, after receiving training from IUCN, he gradually learned the necessary skills to maintain the hives. Over time, he increased his hives to three, and with each harvest of honey and crops, along with fewer crop losses due to elephants, he felt more hopeful about the future. The honey and crops he harvested wasn’t just food for his family; it was a source of income too. Now, every time he walks past his beehives, Kantilal feels proud.
"Beehive farming has really helped reduce the number of elephant visits to my homestead. The mango tree, which is bearing fruit, hasn’t been harmed at all where the bee box is placed. It’s also boosted my crop production, especially mangoes, betel nut, and other vegetables. On top of that, I’ve managed to sell about 8 kilograms of honey," Kantilal explained.
Manosa cleans her beehive
Manosa Chakma, a 40-year-old farmer who lives very close to the forest in Teknaf, faced similar struggles. Elephants would often visit her farm, causing damage and creating fear. Manosa, like Kantilal, was searching for a way to protect her land from the elephants. When she learned about the beehive farming programme, she decided to join. With the same training and support, Manosa set up her own beehives around her home. Although she is just starting, she is already hopeful that this new approach will keep the elephants at bay and bring stability to her farming life. "Elephants usually roam around our village since we live in the same area. However, after the installation of beehives, the elephants seem to avoid the areas with the beehive fences," she observed.
Human-elephant conflict has been a growing issue in the region, which intensified after the influx of over 750,000 Rohingya refugees in 2017 and the need to expand settlements in previously forested areas to provide shelter and protection to those fleeing violence and persecution. The elephants, whose migration routes were blocked and food sources reduced, began to move closer to human settlements, causing frequent conflicts.
In response, IUCN Bangladesh, with support from UNHCR, introduced bio-fencing and beehive fences to mitigate these conflicts and protect both the livelihoods of local farmers and the safety of refugees. A feasibility study in 2021 identified suitable areas for beehive fencing, and the initiative began to take shape. After developing a dedicated pilot, the programme has provided training to 20 farmers from communities hosting refugees in Horikhola Teknaf, ensuring the inclusion of both men and women headed farms.
Each family now has at least one hive forming a protective “beehive fence” within one kilometre of the proposed area of their house. The results are already visible: more than 30 kg of honey has been harvested, and the fear of elephant attacks has significantly decreased. For Kantilal, Manosa, and others in the programme, bee farming isn’t just about making a living – it’s about creating peace in their home and live in harmony with the elephants, who have shared the land for centuries, while protecting their livelihoods.
