Elephant raids on subsistence farms cause food insecurity and deadly human-elephant conflict, but non-lethal deterrents can reduce both animal and human welfare harm.
Human-elephant conflict creates welfare harms on both sides — farmers face food insecurity and psychological trauma, while elephants are killed in retaliation for raiding. Non-lethal deterrents that protect crops without harming elephants represent welfare-compatible solutions to a genuine conflict. Beehive fences simultaneously deter elephants and provide supplemental honey income for farming communities, creating aligned incentives.