Half a Million Honeybees Perish in Netherlands Arson Attack.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has expressed shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a public garden in the city of Almere, causing the death of an estimated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that each hive housed a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could kill them was devastating.
"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have died," he told regional media.
Police in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have requested witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They posted pictures of the fire on online platforms.
The Netherlands authorities says that more than half of the country's 360 species of bee are at threat of dying out, as the number of bees decreases globally.
Mr Stringer explained that police had informed him an accelerant had been used to ignite the hives, which were sitting on pallets in a forested area of the garden.
Barely any of the insects made it through and he noted that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on national radio that she had three hives and planned to give him one of them.
For the beekeeper, who cared for the bees for about nine years, the fire means starting a fresh hive in the park from the beginning.
But he insists he will continue his efforts.
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