Fireflies In Kuala Selangor To See Its End ?

News reports say that there would be no longer any fireflies in Kuala Selangor in a few months because of land clearing which has ruined its habitat.

The fireflies, locally called kelip kelip, have been under constant treat from the construction of the Sungai Selangor Dam to waste pollution and now, the complete destruction of its breeding habitat.

The entire firefly population in Kampung Kuantan and Kampung Bukit Belimbing in Kuala Selangor has already seen significant reduction in recent years.

A boatman who grew up in the area observed that there has been a huge decline in the beetle population in the past 2 years. He recalls when almost all the trees would be lit with fireflies - just like the lights on Christmas trees. But now, he says, one can hardly see a tree with as many fireflies. The tourists visiting Kuala Selangor helps him earn RM500 a month for a 3 hour job every night ferrying them to watch the flashing beetles.

There are 31 boatmen at Kuala Selangor firefly sanctuary earning a living in one of the Selangor’s unique tourist attractions.

Once this tourist attraction is gone, so will the spin-offs from firefly watching tours. This include seafood restaurants and homestay programmes that commercially support the local community.

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