Half a Million Bees Killed in Dutch Deliberate Blaze.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has expressed dismay after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a public garden in the central city of Almere, causing the loss of an estimated 500,000 bees.
The beekeeper mentioned that every colony contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was horrific.
"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have perished," he told local broadcaster.
Police in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the deliberate fire on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared images of the blaze on online platforms.
The Netherlands authorities says that over 50% of the nation's 360 species of bee are at risk of dying out, as the number of bees declines around the world.
Mr Stringer said that authorities had told him an flammable substance had been employed to ignite the hives, which were placed on wooden platforms in a forested area of the park.
Barely any of the insects survived and he said that he had little faith the perpetrator would be apprehended.
Fellow beekeeper a local beekeeper told Dutch radio that she had three hives and wanted to give him a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who cared for the colonies for about nine years, the fire means starting a fresh hive in the park from scratch.
But he insists he will continue his efforts.
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