Half a Million Bees Killed in Netherlands Arson Attack.
A Dutch beekeeper has voiced shock after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a park in the city of Almere, resulting in the death of an estimated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that anyone could destroy them was horrific.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have perished," he informed regional media.
Police in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared pictures of the blaze on online platforms.
The Dutch government says that over 50% of the country's 360 types of bee are at risk of dying out, as the number of bees decreases around the world.
The beekeeper said that police had informed him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the colonies, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.
Barely any of the insects made it through and he said that he had little faith the arsonist would be caught.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on Dutch radio that she had three hives and planned to give him a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the bees for about nine years, the fire means starting a fresh hive in the area from scratch.
But he insists he will not give up.
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