Fireflies face extinction, count dips 76% in 1 yr

THE twinkling fireflies (jugnu), once a staple of 1980s' Bollywood films and children's bedtime stories, face an existential crisis.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

THE twinkling fireflies (jugnu), once a staple of 1980s' Bollywood films and children's bedtime stories, face an existential crisis. A recent nationwide census, conducted by two scientists in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has revealed a drastic and concerning 76 percent decline in their numbers across the country within just one year, pushing these enchanting insects to the brink of extinction.

The grim reality came to light following the census initiated by Senior Professor Dr. Virendra Prasad Uniyal and Dr. Nidhi Rana of Graphic Era University in Dehradun. Their extensive efforts across 22 states revealed a total of just 6,139 fireflies this time, a sharp drop from previous observations.