A Dutch beekeeper has spoken of his shock after his ten beehives were burned down in a park in the central city of Almere, resulting in the loss of an estimated half a million bees.
Harold Stringer reported that each hive typically housed 40 to 60,000 bees and expressed his horror that anyone could commit such an act. It really hurts that my 10 hives have died, he told local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland.
Authorities in Almere, located east of Amsterdam, have launched an investigation into the arson, which occurred on Tuesday evening in the picturesque Beatrixpark, and are appealing for witnesses.
The Dutch government has indicated that over half of the country’s 360 bee species face threats of extinction, reflecting a worldwide decline in bee populations.
Stringer disclosed that police confirmed an accelerant was used to ignite the hives situated on pallets in a wooded area of the park. Almost all of the bees perished, and Stringer expressed skepticism about the likelihood of identifying the perpetrator.
In a display of community support, fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman offered one of her bee colonies to Stringer, who now faces the daunting challenge of starting anew after maintaining his hives for nearly nine years. But I won’t give up, he affirmed.
