The Use of Bees in an Informant Network

Informants play an essential part in any anti-poaching initiative.

Guides Against Poaching (GAP) are innovative in creating informant networks across Zimbabwe. Honey production provides an income source to rural communities, and a good relationship can be established by providing them with active hives, bee-keeping training, and access to markets. Once trust has been secured, these beekeepers become valuable intelligence sources.

This project also helps slow the poaching of natural honey, which involves chopping down trees.

To date, GAP has established 500 hives across the country, and the informant network is growing.