Urgent need to protect firefly habitat

WE refer to the StarMetro report on environmental groups urging the Perak state government to expedite the gazetting of the Kelip-kelip Forest Reserve in Kampung Dew, near Taiping in order to protect its dwindling population of fireflies, “Keep the glow” (Oct 23).

Mangrove-congregating fireflies are a unique group of fireflies. The male fireflies display themselves after dusk and start their rhythmic mating flashes on the leaves of mangrove trees along the riverbank to attract their females. The result is a magnificent display of synchronous and non-synchronous lights, which has attracted visitors to this region’s mangrove rivers.