Lahore: On wet summer nights, the population of fireflies used to attract the Rajo people to display with their bioluminescent displays has witnessed the sharp decline in Lahore, just like many other urban center worlds, over the past few decades, concerts have been held, concerts, concerts have been held, concerts have been held, and concerts have been held, and their local extinction has been raised.
These soft cakes from the Lampyridae family attract companions, thus creating a natural sight, such as stars on the ground.
While no formal warnings on fireflies’ extinction have been issued to Lahore so far, scientific observations and broader South Asian trends have shown that the reduction in victory – possibly over 70% of similar regions – driven by human activities – Deputy Chief Wildlife Reveller Dr. Ghulam Rasool Dr. Ghulam Rasool Dr. Ghulam Rasool Dr. Ghulam Rasool. dawn On Sunday.
Mr Rasour said older Lahore residents often recall gardens, parks like Jallo Park, and the massive amount of fireflies along the canal in the 1980s and 1990s. They are so abundant that children collect them as “live lanterns” as described in Karachi’s cultural narrative. He added that in rural suburbs or semi-outdoor locations, nights used to be illuminated with these tiny natural flickering lights.
He noted that firefly witnesses are now sporadic, limited to the edge of urbanization, such as lawns in suburban areas or areas near bodies of water such as the Ravi River or canals. A 2024 Reddit thread highlights a Lahore resident who spotted fireflies in his yard, but many locals reported that they had not seen the glowing insects in the central area. Their numbers also plummeted in rural areas of Punjab, with some experts warning that they have gradually become extinct due to habitat loss.
Rasour believes that Pakistan’s firefly hotspots, such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Murray, have also lost their population, and urbanization is considered the main culprit. India’s national census for 2025 showed fireflies from more than 25,000 to just 6,139, indicating a regional crisis.
Globally, IUCN estimates that 20% of firefly species evaluated (about 30 of 150) are at risk of extinction, with South Asian species-specific data flawed but vulnerable.
Rapid urbanization in Lahore – now a metropolis of over 13 million – expands the threat of destroying the entire life cycle of fireflies (from larvae glowing in wet soil to adults who need dark, vegetation mating).
The species are not officially listed as locally extinct, but the population may have retreated into an insulated pocket. IUCN’s fireflies expert panel warns that urban fireflies may disappear in a generation without intervention, as seen in certain parts of Europe and India. In Pakistan, experts such as Dr. Maqsood Shah from the Agricultural University of the University of Peshawar called Fireflies a “environmental indicator” and said their absence signals were broader.
He suggested that the plan to establish a firefly breeding center in Jallo Park could be resumed. He said the butterfly houses in Lahore have promoted insect protection. He suggested and called for the expansion of it to the suburbs of Lahore and called for the expansion of it to “firefly tourism” in areas such as the Punjab River and the Kahan Valley. Dr. Shah said the fireflies had not completely left Lahore, but their magic had darkened.
He concluded: “By addressing the threat, we can ensure that our descendants witness the firefly dance again. If you are in Lahore, this monsoon season heads to the dark green dots; you can still get a glimpse.”
Posted in Dawn on September 29, 2025
