Project Re-Hab

Project Re-Hab

Part of: Prelims and GS-III- Environment

In News: Buoyed by the success of its innovative Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) in Karnataka, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has now replicated the project in Assam. 

• Surrounded by dense forests, a large part of Assam is infested by elephants with 332 human deaths reported between 2014 and 2019 due to elephant attacks.

What is Project Re-Hab?

• Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) 
• Objective: To prevent elephant attacks in human habitations using honeybees.
• It entails installing bee boxes along the periphery of the forest and the villages. 
• Under Project RE-HAB, “Bee-fences” are created by setting up bee boxes in the passage ways of elephants to block their entrance to human territories.
• The boxes are connected with a string so that when elephants attempt to pass through, a tug or pull causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and dissuade them from progressing further.
• It is a cost-effective way of reducing human-wild conflicts without causing any harm to the animals. It is scientifically recorded that elephants are annoyed by the honey bees.
• It is believed that elephants’ fear of the bees will prevent them from transgressing into human landscape.  
• Project Re-HAB is a sub-mission of the KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
• Project RE-HAB was launched at 11 locations in Kodagu district of Karnataka on 15th March 2021. In just 6 months, this project has reduced elephant attacks by over 70%.