Sand mining hurting firefly population in Kuala Selangor

PUTRAJAYA: Selangor needs to be wary of sand mining activities near Kuala Selangor as it is affecting the population of fireflies in the area, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said such activities should be done at least three nautical miles away from the firefly’s habitat.

“Fireflies feed on a certain type of snail that is found on the soil. When there is sand mining or sand stockpiles, it will destroy the snails.

“These will cause the firefly to go extinct because its source of food is affected.

“When approving sand mining permits, the Selangor government needs to look into these things.

“It is important that we preserve our fireflies, as it is both a tourist attraction and an indicator of the mangrove area’s health,” Dr Wan Junaidi told reporters after launching the International Symposium on Coastal Erosion and Environ­ment 2018.

He was responding to claims by Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim that sand mining activities in Kampung Kuantan over the past year had affected the habitat of fireflies, contributing to its dwindling population.

Firefly watching is one of the biggest tourist draws in Kuala Selangor, which is about a 40-minute drive away from Kuala Lumpur.