Half a Million Bees Killed in Dutch Deliberate Blaze.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his 10 beehives 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 housed a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could destroy them was horrific.
"It really hurts that my 10 hives have died," he told local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, located to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses after the arson attack on Tuesday night in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared images of the fire on online platforms.
The Netherlands authorities says that over 50% of the country's 360 types of bee are at threat of extinction, as the number of bees decreases globally.
The beekeeper explained that police had told him an accelerant had been used to ignite the hives, which were sitting on pallets 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.
Another apiarist a local beekeeper told Dutch radio that she had three hives and planned to donate a colony.
For the beekeeper, who cared for the colonies for about nine years, the incident means starting a new colony in the park from scratch.
But he affirms he will continue his efforts.
Related Incidents
- A Million Bees Lost in Hives Arson Attack.
