More than 800,000 bees stolen from hives across northern Australia; thieves left the honey behind and took bee colonies worth tens of thousands
- More than 800,000 bees have been stolen from commercial hives across Far North Queensland in a series of unusual thefts that appear to have targeted the living colonies rather than their honey.
- The stolen bees belonged to at least three beekeepers on the Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns, with 44 colonies reported missing.
- The bees and associated colonies are estimated to be worth tens of thousands of Australian dollars, while beekeepers also face losses from honey production and pollination contracts.
Unverified
- More than 800,000 bees have been stolen from commercial hives across Far North Queensland in a series of unusual thefts that appear to have targeted the living colonies rather than their honey.
- The stolen bees belonged to at least three beekeepers on the Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns, with 44 colonies reported missing.
- The bees and associated colonies are estimated to be worth tens of thousands of Australian dollars, while beekeepers also face losses from honey production and pollination contracts.
Sources: Times of India