Half a Million Honeybees Killed in Netherlands Arson Attack.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced dismay after his 10 beehives 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 each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that someone could destroy them was horrific.
"It is deeply painful that my ten colonies have died," he informed local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared images of the fire on online platforms.
The Netherlands authorities reports that over 50% of the country's 360 types of bee are at threat of dying out, as the number of bees declines around the world.
The beekeeper explained that authorities had told him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on pallets in a forested area of the park.
Almost none of the insects made it through and he noted that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman stated on Dutch radio that she had three hives and wanted to give him a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who cared for the bees for about almost a decade, the incident means starting a new colony in the park from scratch.
But he affirms he will not give up.
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