20 September 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Thesis Award 2011 has been given to Dr Lucy E. King, a biologist from the UK. Her PhD thesis on “The interaction between the African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) and the African honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) and its potential application as an elephant deterrent” was one of 60 submitted.

King’s research focuses on the response of the giant African Elephant to honey bees. Based on the standard behavioral pattern of elephants when interacting with bees, she developed a device to prevent elephants from causing damage. The members of the UNEP/CMS Thesis jury considered the thesis as a valuable contribution to reconciling prevailing conflicts between elephants and local people.

The 2011 Thesis Award 0f EUR10,000 is sponsored by Deutsche Lufthansa, and will be presented at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to CMS, which will convene from 20-25 November 2011, in Bergen, Norway. [CMS Press Release] [Publication: Report on UNEP/ CMS Thesis Award]