TheStar-Firefly surprise in Bukit Kiara

Firefly surprise in Bukit Kiara

(From left) Tan, Ahmad Syaharuddin, Kriban, Wan Faridah, Yeoh, Koay, Monash University Malaysia School of Science PhD student Fathan AM and research assistant Tan Wei Jack with a model of the rediscovered firefly species. — Photos: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

Live sighting not seen since 1921 sparks calls for better long-term protection of green lung in Kuala Lumpur

A FIREFLY species has been rediscovered in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, more than 100 years after it was last seen.

The species, identified as Pteroptyx gombakia, was spotted during an experiential learning event at Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara by firefly taxonomist Dr Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh and her team from Monash University Malaysia in January.

According to their research, the species also known as the Gombak bent-winged firefly, was last recorded in the Gombak Valley in 1921.

Their findings – published in the Oryx international journal in March – described the Pteroptyx gombakia as a solitary firefly that inhabits forested areas rather than mangroves, setting it apart from other Pteroptyx species commonly found in riverbank mangroves such as in Kuala Selangor.

The discovery increases the known firefly species count in Bukit Kiara from eight to nine.

Children participating in a range of eco-conscious activities during the event.

Its public unveiling by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh was held during an Earth Day event organised by environmental rights organisation Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK) at Taman Awam Bukit Kiara, widely known as Taman Rimba Kiara, in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI).

Yeoh, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, attributed the rediscovery in part to preservation work by the National Landscape Department (JLN) and FoBK.

“The rediscovery of this ninth firefly species is one matter; the challenge is to keep it alive,” she said.

“The next step is to engage with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to create a buffer zone around Bukit Kiara to ensure the living firefly species don’t disappear.”

She added that her office was looking to collaborate with the private sector to enhance the park’s facilities and encourage greater public use, following the years-long legal battle to protect it.

While DBKL has carried out upgrades such as to jogging tracks and outdoor platforms, Yeoh said more could be done to improve the park.

The Earth Day event, themed “Our Power, Our Planet”, began with an hour-long plogging session that resulted in a collection of 132.9kg of rubbish from the park and surrounding TTDI area.

This included 98kg of general waste, 17.5kg plastics, 9.8kg scrap metal, 6.4kg paper, 0.9kg aluminium and 0.3kg upcyclable food packaging.

Visitors enjoying a picnic at the Earth Day event at Taman Awam Bukit Kiara where they were encouraged to bring their own utensils, containers and other items.

These were handled by Riicycle, the event’s recycling partner, for recycling and disposal.

Visitors and park-goers also had the chance to participate in eco-conscious activities including do-it-yourself plastic upcycling projects, upcycling workshop, environmental detective session as well as talks with environmentalists and community leaders.

Several organisations and social enterprises were present to raise awareness of green causes, engage with the public, sell eco-friendly products and give away free plants for rewilding.

FoBK president Leon Koay said the group was running a citizen science project with two research institutions to better understand Bukit Kiara’s firefly population.

It is also lobbying for the gazettement of the remaining 51ha of land to be part of Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara.

“The whole of Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara is about 162ha in size, of which 111ha was gazetted in 2020 as the first federal park in Malaysia.

“The remaining 51ha is still under lease to a private entity until 2027.

“We were told that the Federal Government will not renew that lease and will gazette the remaining portion (as a federal park),” said Koay.

Yeoh pledged an annual RM20,000 grant from her MP’s allocation plus an additional RM10,000 from the Youth and Sports Ministry under the ‘Rakan Bumi’ initiative to support FoBK’s advocacy work.

Also present at the unveiling of the latest firefly species were JLN deputy director-general (development) Ahmad Syaharuddin Kamaruddin, FoBK past president Dr Kriban G. Naidu and deputy president Tan Boon Hua.

For more information and to participate in FoBK’s citizen science research project on the fireflies of Bukit Kiara, herpetology, trail walks and other activities, visit www.fobk.org

Source: Firefly surprise in Bukit Kiara by By JADE CHAN