Some 19 beehives were stolen in the region of Gaulene (Tarn) earlier this year as according to apiculteurs it is more profitable to steal and resell a hive than to spend the time raising the bees and collecting the honey. A hive can produce up to 40 kilos of honey and the loss of hives due to death of bees as a result (some think) of the use of pesticides has increased the price of honey, so the theft of the hives has become even more attractive.
The use of GPS tracking devices can help recover hives, but this is expensive and as many hives are in out of the way places it can be some time before the loss is noticed. The presumed thieves, who were not simply opportunist wrongdoers, but who knew which hives to take, have been arrested and will appear in court in Albi in January.
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