Project RE-HAB

In News 

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched Project RE-HAB at Village Mornoi in Goalpara district of Assam which severely grapples with elephant-human conflicts.

About Project RE-HAB

• Under Project RE-HAB, “Bee-fences” are created by setting up bee boxes in the passageways 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 scientifically recorded that elephants are annoyed by the honey bees. 
• Project RE-HAB is a sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
  • The Honey Mission is a programme to increase the bee population, honey production and beekeepers’ income by setting up apiaries.
• Achievement: 
  • Project RE-HAB has been a great success in Karnataka and so it has been launched in Assam with greater efficiency and better technological know-how.
    • In just 6 months, this project has reduced elephant attacks by over 70%.

• Benefits 
  • It will thwart elephant attacks in human habitations using honeybees and thus reducing the loss of lives of both humans as well as elephants.
  • It will also help in maintaining a balance in nature, along with the conservation of biodiversity.
  • It is being extremely cost-effective as compared to various other measures such as digging trenches or erecting fences without causing any harm to the animals. 

Source: PIB