500,000 Bees Killed in Dutch Fire Incident.
A Dutch beekeeper 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 500,000 bees.
The beekeeper stated that every colony contained a colony of forty to sixty thousand bees, and the idea that someone could kill them was devastating.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have died," he told local broadcaster.
Police in Almere, which sits to the east of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the deliberate fire on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared pictures of the blaze on social media.
The Dutch government reports that more than half of the country's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the number of bees declines globally.
Mr Stringer said that authorities had told him an flammable substance had been used to burn the hives, which were sitting on pallets in a forested area of the park.
Almost none of the insects made it through and he said that he had doubt the arsonist would be caught.
Another apiarist a local beekeeper stated on national radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to donate a colony.
For the beekeeper, who cared for the bees for about almost a decade, the incident means starting a fresh hive in the area from scratch.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
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