Half a Million Honeybees Perish in Netherlands Fire Incident.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his ten colonies were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the loss of an approximated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that every colony contained a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that someone could kill them was devastating.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have died," he told regional media.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the deliberate fire on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They shared images of the blaze on social media.
The Dutch government says 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 authorities had informed him an flammable substance had been used to burn the hives, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.
Almost none of the bees survived and he noted that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on national radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to give him a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about nine years, the fire means starting a new colony in the park from scratch.
But he insists he will continue his efforts.
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