THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Agriculture Technology Management Agency (Atma) has conducted successful trials to stop intrusion of wild elephants into non-forest areas by cultivating beehives erected on fences bordering forests and farmlands.

Scientists at Atma, a nodal central research agency, carried out the trials at Mathamagalam village in Sultan Bathery taluk, in Wayanad. Beehives cultivated on fences bordering farmlands in Wayand forest range were able to block wild elephants that frequently destroyed crops there.

Atma now plans to conduct the trial on a larger scale by extending the fencing area to around five km.

The agency has submitted a proposal to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) and state forest department seeking funds for the project.

"The farmers were quite upbeat about the project as it would also benefit them monetarily," said director of Atma, B S Roy.

Beehive fences not only deter crop-raiding elephants, but the retreating elephants, stung by bees, emit a unique, low frequency rumble that warns other elephants nearby not to enter the farmlands.

"The sting stay in their memory for a long time, so the elephants won't enter that area again," said Dr Anil Sacria, who was part of the team that developed the concept.

Sacria said this was one of the newer methods to fend off marauding elephants. The other methods are digging trenches, noisy drum beats and electric fences.

"We need to find multiple layers of blockage depending on the topography, area and interests evinced by farmers," Dr Sacria said.

Scientists point out the twin benefits of the project - apart from the beehives acting as a protective wall against wild elephants, farmers can also make monetary gains by extracting honey for commercial purposes.

Atma has trained the first set of farmers in Mathamagalam village and officials from the Khadi Board are extending technical support for cultivating honey commercially.