Half a Million Honeybees Perish in Dutch Fire Incident.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed dismay after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a public garden in the city of Almere, resulting in the death of an estimated 500,000 bees.
Harold Stringer mentioned that every colony housed a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was horrific.
"It is deeply painful that my ten colonies have perished," he told local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the arson attack on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted images of the fire on social media.
The Netherlands authorities says that more than half of the country's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees declines globally.
The beekeeper explained that police had told him an accelerant had been used to ignite the hives, which were sitting on pallets 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 caught.
Another apiarist a local beekeeper stated on national radio that she had three hives and wanted to donate a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the bees for about almost a decade, the incident means building a new colony in the park from the beginning.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
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