500,000 Honeybees Perish in Dutch Fire Incident.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed dismay after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a park in the central city of Almere, causing the death of an approximated half a million bees.
Harold Stringer stated that each hive contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was horrific.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have perished," he informed local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for observers after the deliberate fire on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They posted pictures of the fire on online platforms.
The Dutch government says that over 50% of the country's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the population of bees declines globally.
Mr Stringer explained that police had informed him an accelerant had been used to burn the hives, which were placed on pallets in a wooded part of the park.
Almost none of the bees survived and he said that he had doubt the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist a local beekeeper told Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to donate one of them.
For the beekeeper, who cared for the bees for about nine years, the incident means building a fresh hive in the park from the beginning.
But he insists he will not give up.
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