500,000 Honeybees Perish in Netherlands Arson Attack.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced dismay after his 10 beehives were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the death of an approximated 500,000 bees.
The beekeeper mentioned that each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could kill them was devastating.
"It is deeply painful that my ten colonies have died," he told regional media.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They shared images of the blaze on online platforms.
The Dutch government says that over 50% of the nation's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees decreases around the world.
The beekeeper explained that authorities had told him an accelerant had been used to ignite the colonies, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.
Barely any of the bees made it through and he said that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist a local beekeeper told national radio that she had three hives and planned to donate one of them.
For Mr Stringer, who cared for the colonies for about almost a decade, the incident means building a fresh hive in the park from the beginning.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
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