Fireflies Spectacle Coming to an End 

2009-06-08 03:21

 

Thousands of Thai and foreign tourists flock to southern Thailand's Mae Klong river to witness a magic spectacle. 

 

Ban Lomtuan (pron: Barn Lom-tuan) is a well-known firefly habitat. Fireflies swarm the local Sonneratia Caseolaris trees, known as "Lampoo" that live on the river bank.

 

The dim light from the bugs flashes on and off during the mating period to help males and females recognize one another.


 
But this magic light show may soon be a thing of the past. The hundreds of motorboats used every evening are damaging the Lampoo trees.

 

Locals say up to 80 percent of the firefly population has started to disappear.


 
[Klao Sakulnoom, Local]:(female, Thai)
"There are hundreds of boats. They have ruined the riverbank. The number of fireflies will decrease as their eggs are swept away by the waves. The population of fireflies is going down."

 

Conservationists say the new houses built for the waves of tourists have eaten away the grass where the fireflies lay their eggs.

 

[Preecha Jiayhoo, Firefly Conservation Team]:(male, Thai)
"We have managed to stop villagers from burning and weeding the grass. This will help maintain the habitat for fireflies to live and breed in. But they are not cooperating with us in other aspects. So it could affect the fireflies’ population which might become extinct, go sharply down, or may migrate to different areas."

 

Nostalgic villagers say they used to use the fireflies' light to guide their way through the canals.

 

[Vichit Ploosuwan, Local]:(male, Thai)
"Before, you could see fireflies in every Sonneratia Caseolaris tree along the river, for hundreds of meters. It just looked like decorated lights on a Christmas tree. I could catch and play with them when I was a kid. I never thought it would become extinct."

 

So if things carry on the way they are going, neither villagers nor tourists will be able to admire this light spectacle in the near future.