500,000 Bees Killed in Netherlands Fire Incident.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his 10 beehives were burned down in a public garden in the central city of Almere, resulting in the death of an approximated 500,000 bees.
Harold Stringer stated that every colony contained a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was devastating.
"It is deeply painful that my 10 hives have perished," he informed regional media.
Police in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have requested witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday evening in the city's picturesque Beatrixpark. They shared pictures of the blaze on social media.
The Dutch government reports that more than half of the nation's 360 types of bee are at risk of dying out, as the number of bees declines globally.
The beekeeper said that police had informed him an accelerant had been used to ignite the colonies, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a forested area of the garden.
Barely any of the insects survived and he said that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.
Fellow beekeeper a local beekeeper stated on national radio that she had three bee colonies and planned to donate one of them.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about almost a decade, the fire means building a new colony in the area from the beginning.
But he insists he will continue his efforts.
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