A Dutch beekeeper has expressed his shock and sorrow after his ten beehives were deliberately destroyed in a fire at Beatrixpark in Almere, leaving an estimated half a million bees dead.
Harold Stringer stated that each hive contained a colony of 40,000 to 60,000 bees, and the thought of such a loss was horrific. It really hurts that my 10 hives have died, he told local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland.
Police in Almere, located east of Amsterdam, are actively investigating the incident, which occurred Tuesday evening. They have released photographs of the fire on social media, urging witnesses to come forward.
The attack is particularly concerning given that more than half of the 360 bee species native to the Netherlands are now at risk of extinction, a trend consistent with the declining populations of bees globally.
Authorities report that an accelerant was used to ignite the hives, which were placed on pallets within a wooded area of the park. Unfortunately, only a few bees appear to have survived the fire, and Mr. Stringer expressed skepticism about the chances of the perpetrator being caught.
In a show of solidarity, fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman offered to help Mr. Stringer by giving him one of her colonies. After caring for his bees for nearly nine years, Mr. Stringer is determined to rebuild his colonies despite this devastating setback.
