It Takes a Village to Keep Fireflies Flashing

Local community guides hold the key to conserving Perak’s firefly populations along Sungai Sepetang, and they are doing so hand-in-hand with  conservationists.

Writer: Liani MK

Editor: SL Wong

Published: 3 June, 2025

 

[Local community involvement along with science are critical to  firefly conservation  |  Pic: Arieff Zafir]

[Local community involvement along with science are critical to  firefly conservation  |  Pic: Arieff Zafir]

DID YOU know that fireflies were once believed to be fingernails of passing ghosts, asks Ismail bin Ishak with a laugh. In Malay folklore, these kuku hantu (ghost’s nails) were associated with spirits of the dead. They must be respected, but not touched.

It is for this reason that during his childhood, many did not dare touch fireflies, he says. Today, Ismail, who is in his 60s, guides visitors on firefly boat tours on Sungai Sepetang, Perak.

As one of the top firefly conservation and tourism sites in Malaysia, Sungai Sepetang is one of the few healthy Congregating Firefly Zones left on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Congregating fireflies are fireflies which gather in large groups to mate. It is the males that flash soft glows of light to attract females.

These zones are therefore crucial firefly mating habitats.

Local experts

Ismail and his fellow villagers have been running evening firefly tours from their village, Kampung Dew, for almost 20 years. They earn a living and ensure that visitors experience the excitement of viewing fireflies without causing them harm.

“When we see fireflies, if possible, we don’t touch them,” he says. “But sometimes, tourists want to touch, [so] we tell them they have to do so gently.”

The reasons though are not folklore-based. “If you’re rough, they can die because they are soft-bodied and small, too.”

When locals manage firefly tourism, they are a force for conservation, drawing on scientific knowledge to make a living while conserving these unique insects, and importantly, their mangrove ecosystems.

Sungai Sepetang is one of healthiest congregating firefly habitats in Peninsular Malaysia, and draws tourists from all over the world (Photo by Arieff Zafir)

MALAYSIA is home to over 60 firefly species and all face threats from habitat destruction, light pollution, and rising sea levels due to the climate crisis. Fireflies are important indicators of ecosystem health, and their decline draws attention to the health of Malaysia’s mangrove ecosystems.

Sungai Sepetang is part of the river system of Perak’s 40,000ha Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve. As one of the world’s longest-managed reserves and the largest mangrove forest reserve in Malaysia, Matang is located about 10 km from Taiping.

Sungai Sepetang is also home to large populations of synchronous congregating fireflies from the genus Pteroptyx that gather on the mangrove trees along riverbanks. At night, the trees act as “display trees” for the males to flash and attract mates.

The dominant species in Sungai Sepetang is Pteroptyx tener, which exhibits 3 perfect synchronous flashing every second. It often coexists with Pteroptyx valida and Pteroptyx malaccae, the latter commonly found in brackish water.

Left photo: On Sungai Sepetang, local guide Cikgu Khairul (right) listens carefully as firefly expert Dr Wan Faridah  (second from left) explains differences between Pteroptyx species using a guide on her handphone (right photo). (Photos by Arieff Zafir)

Top photo: On Sungai Sepetang, local guide Cikgu Khairul (right) listens carefully as firefly expert Dr Wan Faridah  (second from left) explains differences between Pteroptyx species using a guide on her handphone (bottom photo). (Photos by Arieff Zafir)

When different firefly species congregate on the same tree, observers may notice distinct flashing patterns rather than a perfectly uniform display.

Like Christmas trees, on both sides [of the river],” says 60-year-old tour boat operator Khairul Salleh bin Ahmad with a smile. Fondly known as Cikgu Khairul, this teacher-turned firefly guide operates tours from the other end of Sungai Sepetang, 16 km downstream of Kampung Dew in the coastal town of Kuala Sepetang.

He shares nuggets of firefly trivia to generate conservation awareness among visitors. His enthusiasm is so infectious, he has persuaded guests not to cancel tours even in the rainy season. Fireflies often hide under the leaves in the drizzle, he tells them. “When the leaf is still wet, you can see the light from the fireflies reflect from the water… If you want to see the real light of the fireflies, you should come after the rain.”

He says that some of the tourists wait at the jetty until the rain stops.

“Low impact to nature, and giving back to the community — my motto is always this,” says Cikgu Khairul. “When I first started, my knowledge about fireflies and mangroves [was] zero. And then slowly I learned.”

Research tours

Besides tourists, he now guides researchers and students from local and international universities, which enables on-site exchange of knowledge and information. “For me, I want [to provide] high-end, high-quality tours and educate visitors.”

Sharing knowledge about the mangrove trees are part of his tour, for they are crucial for his star insects: Pteroptyx tener fireflies rely on mangrove trees such as the berembang (Sonneratia caseolaris) and api api putih (Avicennia alba) along riverbanks to complete their life cycle.

This is why Cikgu Khairul also replants mangroves. As he unloads 120 seedlings of bakau minyak (Rhizophora apiculate) from the trunk of his car, he says, “If there’s no mangrove, there’s no kelip-kelip [fireflies].” The seedlings are for a replanting programme in the Matang mangrove forest.

Sungai Sepetang is where renowned firefly taxonomist Dr Wan Faridah  (pictured left)  started her firefly research, including of the dominant species there, Pteroptyx tener (pictured right). (Left photo by NR Hashim, right photo by Wan FA Jusoh)

Sungai Sepetang is where renowned firefly taxonomist Dr Wan Faridah  (pictured top)  started her firefly research, including of the dominant species there, Pteroptyx tener (pictured bottom). (Top photo by NR Hashim, bottom photo by Wan FA Jusoh)

FIREFLY expert and taxonomist Dr Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh knows all too well how much fireflies depend on diverse and healthy mangroves. She actually began her firefly research at the Sepetang estuary 15 years ago in 2010. Now co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Firefly Specialist Group, she tours the river again recently with Cikgu Khairul.

In her research, Wan Faridah found that fireflies prefer different display trees based on different factors: tree health, how close they are to the water’s edge, their proximity to food sources for larvae and adults, or for communication reasons.

Likewise, each stage of a firefly’s life requires specific microhabitat conditions: adults need fully-grown display trees to mate, but they need moist but not-too-dry areas to lay eggs, while larvae need to access snail food sources.

Any disturbance to these habitats impacts their survival. On the flipside, if fireflies are thriving, it means the ecosystem is doing well and conservation is working. That is why fireflies are an important “icon species” for conservation, because protecting them means safeguarding a much larger ecosystem, says Wan Faridah.

But even in protected areas like Matang, habitat destruction threatens the fireflies.

A 2024 study indicates that while Matang has been managed for over a century, there are signs of its declining ability to provide ecosystem services, due to environmental changes and challenges in balancing production with conservation efforts.

In another study, satellite imagery analyses of Matang from 2011 to 2020 revealed conversions of mangrove areas to water bodies, dryland forests and oil palm plantations. These changes suggest that despite its reputation for sustainable management, Matang faces pressures that could impact its ecological integrity.

Upriver protection urgent

Sonny Wong knows Matang well. He is a member of the IUCN Firefly Specialist Group, and researches fireflies, especially the mangrove congregating fireflies.

He warns that attention must be paid to the habitats outside the mangrove forest reserve which are not protected, such as the upper stream brackish rivers and floodplains — low-lying areas along rivers that are naturally prone to flooding and important to the broader riverine ecosystem that fireflies depend on.

To mitigate flood risks and enable land development in these areas, he said river bunds were built along the river, rivers were dredged every few years, and soil dumped along the banks. Excavators were destructive, pushing aside mangrove trees, and even their tracks destroyed the firefly habitats.

Wong adds, “As development in these floodplains continues, stricter river reserve legal protection is needed.” But that may not be enough as many river reserves border agricultural land, industrial areas, villages, towns, ports and even cities.

Long-term studies by researchers like Sonny Wong  and Dr Ohba Nobuyoshi (pictured left) shows that river reserves (pictured right) are vulnerable. (Left photo courtesy of Sonny Wong, right photo by Arieff Zafir)

Long-term studies by researchers like Sonny Wong  and Dr Ohba Nobuyoshi (top picture) shows that river reserves (bottom picture) are vulnerable. (top photo courtesy of Sonny Wong, bottom photo by Arieff Zafir)

COMMUNITY leadership is critical in ensuring ethical tourism practices, notes biologist and firefly expert Dr Sara Lewis, who is Wan Faridah’s co-chair of the IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group.

It is more effective than imposing solutions. “We’re not saying, ‘Here’s our idea, this is what you should do’. Instead, we want to work together with all stakeholders to find a way forward that protects fireflies while also supporting the economic interests of local communities.”

On Sungai Sepetang, Cikgu Khairul and Ismail are aware of unsustainable tourism practices.

Tourist jetties are brightly and cheerfully lit but when Cikgu Khairul reaches the firefly spots, he quickly switches off his boat lights. Artificial light can ‘blind’ the male fireflies, says Wan Faridah. “Male fireflies have to glow really bright for the female to see, but the artificial lights confuse them.”

In the pitch darkness, Cikgu Khairul adds, “They can even be affected by the reflection from my boat — that’s why we try not to use any form of light whenever we are on the boat.”

Firefly-watching etiquette for tourists

  • No artificial lights (no flashlights, lanterns, phones, light-up shoes)
  • No flash photography
  • Stay on the marked trail at all times
  • Speak quietly
  • Do not capture fireflies or disturb their display sites
  • No smoking or heavy perfume
  • Cover up for mosquito protection (if you need insect repellent, apply it before arriving at the site)

Source: Firefly tourism: Advancing a global phenomenon toward a brighter future (Lewis, et al, 2021)

Firefly-watching etiquette for tourists

  • No artificial lights (no flashlights, lanterns, phones, light-up shoes)
  • No flash photography
  • Stay on the marked trail at all times
  • Speak quietly
  • Do not capture fireflies or disturb their display sites
  • No smoking or heavy perfume
  • Cover up for mosquito protection (if you need insect repellent, apply it before arriving at the site)

Source: Firefly tourism: Advancing a global phenomenon toward a brighter future (Lewis, et al, 2021)

Wan Faridah is impressed with firefly tour guides’ knowledge, curiosity and openness to learning.

When she gently corrects Cikgu Khairul for misidentifying a firefly species, his eyes widen, then he smiles. “Kena update information (The information must be updated)!” he bellows to rounds of laughter on the boat.

He even shares this new piece of information with a passing tour boat. That boatman immediately relays this information to his tourists. “Apologies to all the tourists! Sometimes we meet so many researchers, things get misheard. Today we learned something new!” The river rumbled with laughter as both boats bobbed in the dark.

Passing the torch

What’s more, the next generation is as committed.

“Amirul! Rapat ke sana (Move the boat over there),” Cikgu Khairul urges his 20-year-old son. “I want to see that valida.” His son takes over the boat and steers it towards a tree with Pteroptyx valida fireflies. They differ from the other species because they flash at a slower rate.

“We call them the ‘king’,” Amirul tells Macaranga. “Because they [fly] to the highest [tree] point.” He also asks Wan Faridah questions about this species.

Cikgu Khairul (left photo, in blue) has amassed rich knowledge about both fireflies and mangroves in Sungai Sepetang from the researchers he boats around. This knowledge is equally manifested in his son, Amirul (pictured left, foreground, and in the right photo examining a firefly) (Photos by Arieff Zafir)

Cikgu Khairul (top photo, in blue) has amassed rich knowledge about both fireflies and mangroves in Sungai Sepetang from the researchers he boats around. This knowledge is equally manifested in his son, Amirul (pictured top, foreground, and in the bottom photo examining a firefly). (Photos by Arieff Zafir)

COMMUNITY involvement has been central to global firefly conservation efforts — and Malaysia has played an active role in shaping these conversations.

Twenty-five years ago, the first global reference document for firefly protection worldwide was produced in Malaysia. The Selangor Declaration emerged at the 2nd International Firefly Symposium which continues to bring together scientists, naturalists, educators and artists from different countries to discuss firefly conservation.

From that moment, says Wan Faridah, Malaysia especially and other countries were encouraged to focus more on firefly conservation.

Southeast Asian success

In 2022, recognising various firefly species as Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List Assessment was a major milestone. It was the first global conservation assessment of fireflies from Southeast Asia. The Pteroptyx tener, Pteropytyx malaccae and the Pteroptyx valida — all found at Sungai Sepetang — were among those assessed as Vulnerable.

“Before this, although we said they were threatened, but there was no official recognition,” says Wan Faridah. “The sad part is they are Vulnerable — they are closer to extinction than what we thought before.

“We don’t want to just list species [with] no action. We want to also see that all species can be recognised for protection,” Wan Faridah says. “The IUCN policy recommendations are there. [It’s] whether or not a country like Malaysia wants to adopt it.”

“People have an emotional connection to fireflies. They remember seeing them as children, with their families in special places…Conservation and working with local communities are thus something we’re going to be doing for many years.” 

    ~ Dr Sara Lewis, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Firefly Specialist Group

“People have an emotional connection to fireflies. They remember seeing them as children, with their families in special places…Conservation and working with local communities are thus something we’re going to be doing for many years.” 

    ~ Dr Sara Lewis, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Firefly Specialist Group

The good news is that local conservation action plans by FRIM for firefly habitats such as Sungai Selangor are already implemented. Likewise at country level, discussions have started on a Malaysia Mangrove Firefly Conservation Action Plan for 2030—2040.

At the same time, she points out, “You cannot simply adopt conservation management proposed by Selangor to be used in Terengganu.” Mangrove vegetation patterns and species diversity differ significantly between locations.

Back at Sungai Sepetang, Macaranga asks Cikgu Khairul why anyone should care about fireflies at all. His eyes light up immediately. “Good question!” he says, pulling out a little button badge inscribed with the words, ‘Most Precious Customer — Kuala Sepetang Eco Tourism’.

“Ha! When we have fireflies, it means that our ecosystem is in good condition,” he says, laughing. “Whenever someone asks this question in my tour group, I give them this present.”

The button does not shine. It does not need to. In the dark on Sungai Sepetang, fireflies are flashing, and the guides and tourists are smiling. Everyone is glowing.

[Edited by SL Wong]

This story was produced with a grant from the Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL) and administered by Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM). The contents of this story do not necessarily reflect the views of YELL, JWM, and their collaborators.

Update: 5/6/25 @10.19am ~ The definition of congregating fireflies was corrected.  |  18/6/25 @9.41pm ~ The length of time Dr Wan has been a scientist was corrected.

Liani visited the Matang Mangrove Forest eco-education centre, Kuala Sepetang and Kampung Dew in Perak for this story. She observed fireflies on a night boat ride on Sungai Sepetang with the photographer of the story, along with boat operator Khairul Salleh bin Ahmad, and firefly researcher Dr Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh. She conducted online research, interviews and consulted experts from Monash University and IUCN SSC Firefly Specialist Group co-chair Dr Sara Lewis, along with former IUCN SSC co-chair and an independent firefly researcher/former Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) officer Sonny Wong. Liani also produced her own illustrations for the story.

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