Half a Million Bees Perish in Dutch Deliberate Blaze.
A Dutch beekeeper has voiced shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, resulting in the loss of an approximated half a million bees.
Harold Stringer mentioned that each hive contained a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that someone could kill them was horrific.
"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have died," he informed local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They posted images of the fire on online platforms.
The Dutch government says 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 explained that police had told him an accelerant had been employed to burn the colonies, which were placed on pallets in a wooded part of the garden.
Almost none of the bees made it through and he noted that he had doubt the perpetrator would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to donate one of them.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about almost a decade, the incident means starting a new colony in the park from scratch.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
Related Incidents
- A Million Bees Lost in Hives Arson Attack.
