A Dutch beekeeper in Almere reported that his ten beehives were destroyed by fire, resulting in the death of approximately half a million bees. Harold Stringer stated that each hive contained around 40,000 to 60,000 bees. He expressed sadness over the loss, noting that it is difficult to understand how someone could commit such an act.
The fire, which occurred on Tuesday evening in Beatrixpark, led local police to seek witnesses and share images of the incident on social media. Following an investigation, authorities indicated that an accelerant was used to ignite the hives, which were located on pallets within a wooded section of the park. The incident highlights concerns about the decline of bee populations; the Dutch government has reported that more than half of the 360 bee species in the country are at risk of extinction.
Stringer mentioned that few bees survived the fire and expressed doubt regarding the likelihood of apprehending the individual responsible for the arson. In a show of support, fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman, who manages three bee colonies, offered one of her colonies to Stringer.
Having cared for the bees for nearly nine years, Stringer now faces the challenge of rebuilding his colonies from scratch. Despite the setback, he remains determined to continue his beekeeping efforts.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5jve6xwn1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss