This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-15836079

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Elephant and bee researcher nets green prize Elephant and bee researcher nets green prize
(about 1 hour later)
By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC NewsBy Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News
A British scientist has won a coveted environment research prize for showing how bees can be used to reduce conflict between people and elephants.A British scientist has won a coveted environment research prize for showing how bees can be used to reduce conflict between people and elephants.
Lucy King's work proved that beehive "fences" can keep elephants out of African farmers' fields or compounds.Lucy King's work proved that beehive "fences" can keep elephants out of African farmers' fields or compounds.
The animals are scared of bees, which can sting them inside their trunks, and flee when they hear buzzing.The animals are scared of bees, which can sting them inside their trunks, and flee when they hear buzzing.
Dr King received the award during a ceremony at the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting in Norway. Dr King received the Unep/CMS Thesis Prize at the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting in Norway.
"Her research underlines how working with, rather than against, nature can provide humanity with many of the solutions to the challenges countries and communities face," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (Unep)."Her research underlines how working with, rather than against, nature can provide humanity with many of the solutions to the challenges countries and communities face," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (Unep).
"Dr King's work spotlights an intelligent solution to an age-old challenge, while providing further confirmation of the importance of bees to people and a really clever way of conserving the world's largest land animal for current and future generations.""Dr King's work spotlights an intelligent solution to an age-old challenge, while providing further confirmation of the importance of bees to people and a really clever way of conserving the world's largest land animal for current and future generations."
The African-born scientist, whose research was supervised at Oxford University, said she was delighted and surprised to receive the prize, which is given every three years to a particularly outstanding PhD thesis in the conservation field.The African-born scientist, whose research was supervised at Oxford University, said she was delighted and surprised to receive the prize, which is given every three years to a particularly outstanding PhD thesis in the conservation field.
"I just couldn't believe it when I heard - it was such a boost, and a wonderful thing to be recognised at that level," she told BBC News."I just couldn't believe it when I heard - it was such a boost, and a wonderful thing to be recognised at that level," she told BBC News.
"Especially after spending five years out in the bush bouncing around in a landrover - it was wonderful.""Especially after spending five years out in the bush bouncing around in a landrover - it was wonderful."
Buzzing offBuzzing off
Part of Dr King's prize was giving a lecture at the CMS meeting in Bergen, telling the assembled scientists and government delegates about the project.Part of Dr King's prize was giving a lecture at the CMS meeting in Bergen, telling the assembled scientists and government delegates about the project.
Working in Kenya, she and her team showed that more than 90% of elephants will flee when they hear the sounds of buzzing bees.Working in Kenya, she and her team showed that more than 90% of elephants will flee when they hear the sounds of buzzing bees.
Subsequently, they also found that elephants produce a special rumble to warn their fellows of the danger.Subsequently, they also found that elephants produce a special rumble to warn their fellows of the danger.
They used the findings to construct barriers where beehives are woven into a fence, keeping the elephants away from places where people live and grow food.They used the findings to construct barriers where beehives are woven into a fence, keeping the elephants away from places where people live and grow food.
A two-year pilot project involving 34 farms showed that elephants trying to go through the fences would shake them, disturbing the bees.A two-year pilot project involving 34 farms showed that elephants trying to go through the fences would shake them, disturbing the bees.
Later, the fences were adopted by farming communities in three Kenyan districts - who also made increased amounts of money from selling honey.Later, the fences were adopted by farming communities in three Kenyan districts - who also made increased amounts of money from selling honey.
"Dr Lucy King has designed a constructive solution that considers the needs of migratory animals but also the economic benefits to the local communities linked to species conservation," said CMS executive secretary Elizabeth Maruma Mrema."Dr Lucy King has designed a constructive solution that considers the needs of migratory animals but also the economic benefits to the local communities linked to species conservation," said CMS executive secretary Elizabeth Maruma Mrema.
As Africa's population grows, competition for space between people and elephants is becoming more serious, and there are fatalities on both sides.As Africa's population grows, competition for space between people and elephants is becoming more serious, and there are fatalities on both sides.
The same is true in parts of Asia.The same is true in parts of Asia.
Sri Lanka alone sees the deaths of an estimated 60 people and 200 elephants each year from conflict.Sri Lanka alone sees the deaths of an estimated 60 people and 200 elephants each year from conflict.
Working with the charity Save the Elephants, Lucy King now wants to see whether the Kenyan technique will work in other parts of Africa - and perhaps, eventually, in Asia.Working with the charity Save the Elephants, Lucy King now wants to see whether the Kenyan technique will work in other parts of Africa - and perhaps, eventually, in Asia.
"I can't say for certain it's going to work elsewhere, but there is potential to take it down to southern Africa which has the largest elephant population and an increasing human-elephant conflict problem," she said."I can't say for certain it's going to work elsewhere, but there is potential to take it down to southern Africa which has the largest elephant population and an increasing human-elephant conflict problem," she said.
"With Asia, there are some issues we'd have to look at - it's a totally different elephant species, the bee species are different, it rains a lot more, we have animals like bears that love honey - but I'd be very interested in sharing my research with anyone with experience in Asia to see whether it could work there.""With Asia, there are some issues we'd have to look at - it's a totally different elephant species, the bee species are different, it rains a lot more, we have animals like bears that love honey - but I'd be very interested in sharing my research with anyone with experience in Asia to see whether it could work there."
Follow Richard on TwitterFollow Richard on Twitter