Human-elephant conflict is a pressing issue in Africa and Asia, but a new audio technology called BuzzBox™ is providing a promising solution. The BuzzBox™ emits the sound of disturbed beehives, a sound that elephants have learned to avoid. Developed by ECF grantee Wild Survivors in Tanzania, the BuzzBox™ acts as a deterrent for elephants and helps protect crops and communities from damage. Your generous donations will allow ECF to support the development of more of this type of technology.
Rare ‘one-in-a-million’ camera footage (below) from ECF grantee ELRECO, shows a forest elephant in Liberia reacting to a BuzzBox™ during an audio study. The elephant can be seen recoiling from the sound, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the BuzzBox™ in deterring elephants.
The background to this unique study is a wonderful story of conservation partners across Africa, working together to research peaceful and effective ways to keep elephants away from communities and reduce human-elephant conflict. Collaboration is, after all, the key to securing a future for wild African elephants. Read a NY Times article about the BuzzBox™ and how this technology is saving elephants.