Last August, the price of natural rubber in Yunnan fell to around 12,000 yuan per ton.
The IFAW's program attempted to address these issues by encouraging villagers to cultivate beehives, which are profitable and resilient to market fluctuations and the elephants.
The first 100 beehives were distributed to 10 local households in 2020. Since then, villagers have gradually switched their focus from rubber farming to beekeeping to reduce the risk of encountering elephants.
The bees also serve multiple secondary functions, such as helping to pollinate plants in the reserve, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in the core habitat of the Asian elephant.
