Half a Million Bees Killed in Netherlands Arson Attack.
A beekeeper from the Netherlands has voiced shock after his ten colonies were set ablaze in a public garden in the city of Almere, resulting in the loss of an estimated half a million bees.
The beekeeper stated that each hive housed a population of 40-60,000 bees, and the idea that anyone could destroy them was devastating.
"It is deeply painful that my ten colonies have perished," he informed local broadcaster.
Law enforcement in Almere, located to the northeast of Amsterdam, have requested observers after the deliberate fire on Tuesday evening in the city's scenic Beatrixpark. They shared images of the blaze on social media.
The Dutch government reports that more than half of the country's 360 types of bee are at risk of extinction, as the population of bees decreases around the world.
The beekeeper explained that authorities had informed him an accelerant had been employed to burn the colonies, which were sitting on wooden platforms in a wooded part of the park.
Barely any of the bees made it through and he noted that he had little faith the arsonist would be apprehended.
Another apiarist Heleen Nieman stated on national radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to donate one of them.
For the beekeeper, who cared for the colonies for about almost a decade, the incident means building a new colony in the park from the beginning.
But he insists he will continue his efforts.
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