500,000 Bees Killed in Netherlands Deliberate Blaze.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed shock after his 10 beehives were set ablaze in a park in the city of Almere, causing the death of an estimated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that every colony housed a population of forty to sixty thousand bees, and the thought that someone could kill them was horrific.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives 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 shared images of the fire on online platforms.
The Dutch government reports that over 50% of the nation's 360 types of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees declines around the world.
The beekeeper said that police had informed him an flammable substance had been used to ignite the colonies, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a forested area of the garden.
Barely any of the bees made it through and he noted that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman told Dutch radio that she had three hives and planned to give him one of them.
For Mr Stringer, who cared for the colonies for about nine years, the incident means starting a fresh hive in the park from scratch.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
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