Half a Million Bees Killed in Dutch Deliberate Blaze.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed shock after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a public garden in the city of Almere, causing the loss of an estimated 500,000 bees.
Harold Stringer stated that each hive contained a colony of forty to sixty thousand bees, and the thought that someone could destroy them was horrific.
"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have perished," he told regional media.
Police in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared pictures of the fire on online platforms.
The Dutch government reports that over 50% of the nation's 360 types of bee are at threat of extinction, as the population of bees decreases globally.
The beekeeper said that police had told him an flammable substance had been used to burn the hives, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.
Barely any of the insects made it through and he noted that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Fellow beekeeper a local beekeeper stated on Dutch radio that she had three hives and wanted to give him a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who cared for the colonies for about nine years, the incident means building a fresh hive in the park from scratch.
But he affirms he will not give up.
Related Incidents
- A Million Bees Lost in Hives Arson Attack.
