500,000 Bees Killed in Dutch Deliberate Blaze.
A Dutch beekeeper has expressed dismay after his ten colonies were burned down in a public garden in the central city of Almere, resulting in the loss of an approximated 500,000 bees.
Harold Stringer stated that each hive housed a colony of 40-60,000 bees, and the thought that anyone could kill them was horrific.
"It really hurts that my ten colonies have perished," he informed local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, which sits to the east of Amsterdam, have appealed for witnesses 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 says that over 50% of the country's 360 types of bee are at threat of dying out, as the number of bees decreases around the world.
Mr Stringer explained that police had told him an accelerant had been employed to ignite the colonies, which were sitting on pallets in a forested area of the park.
Almost none of the bees survived and he said that he had doubt the arsonist would be caught.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman told national radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to donate a colony.
For Mr Stringer, who looked after the colonies for about nine years, the incident means building a fresh hive in the area from the beginning.
But he affirms he will not give up.
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