2017 Firefly Protection Work Summary

In 2017, the widespread capture and commercial exploitation of fireflies garnered significant attention from domestic and international media, authorities, and the public. As ecological awareness among the public grew, the call for firefly conservation became increasingly vocal.

 

Key Developments and Achievements in 2017

Time flew by, and 2017 passed quickly. Over the year, through the concerted efforts of many individuals and organizations, we achieved several major milestones in firefly protection:

• Alibaba’s Ban on Live Firefly Sales: On May 24th, in response to growing public concern and advocacy, Alibaba, a platform that had previously seen large volumes of live firefly retail, began to ban the sale of live fireflies. This was a significant step forward in reducing the commercial trade of these insects.

• Crackdown on Firefly Capture: Thanks to the persistent efforts of national volunteers from the Firefly Eco-line, media outlets, and local governments, numerous regions implemented measures to curb the capture of fireflies at the source. This collective action was crucial in addressing the root causes of the exploitation.

• Stricter Regulations by SF Express: SF Express, the primary carrier for transporting fireflies, strengthened its management policies and explicitly prohibited the illegal transport of live animals. This move significantly disrupted the supply chain used by those trading in live fireflies.

• Public Resistance to Firefly Exploitation: Throughout the year, an increasing number of people voiced their opposition to the mass capture of fireflies and the unnatural display of live fireflies in exhibitions. This growing public resistance played a vital role in shifting societal attitudes towards more sustainable and ethical practices.

 

Decline in Live Firefly Exhibitions

The once-popular live firefly exhibitions, which had been booming in previous years, showed a declining trend in 2017. The following chart illustrates the overall situation of live firefly exhibitions during the year:

 

In the chart, we can observe that commercial firefly exhibitions were primarily concentrated in the eastern coastal cities of China.

 

According to incomplete statistics from Lei Ping, a volunteer from the Firefly Eco-line, the following data outlines the scope and distribution of live firefly exhibitions throughout 2017:

• Geographical Spread: In 2017, live firefly exhibitions took place across 22 provinces and 66 prefecture-level cities.
• Commercial Involvement: A total of 82 businesses were involved in organizing these live firefly exhibitions.

 

Distribution of Exhibition Venues:

• Tourist Attractions: 53% of the exhibitions were held at various tourist sites, both large and small.
• Shopping Malls: 4% of the exhibitions took place in shopping malls.
• Art Galleries: 1% were hosted by art galleries.
• Corporations: 5% were organized by corporate entities.
• Real Estate: 18% were associated with real estate promotions or events.
• Museums: 1% of the exhibitions were held in museums.
• Music Festivals: 1% were featured at music festivals.
• Tourism and Family Activities: 2% were part of tourism or family-oriented activities.
• Hotels: 5% of the exhibitions took place in hotels.
• Amusement Parks: 6% were held in amusement parks.

Among the 82 businesses involved, the following actions were taken regarding the live firefly exhibitions:

• Cancellations Before the Event: 17 businesses canceled the firefly exhibition segment after advertising the event but before the scheduled exhibition date.
• Mid-Event Shutdowns: 7 businesses were forced to halt their firefly exhibitions midway through the event.
• Persistent Exhibitions: Despite these efforts, 58 businesses proceeded with their firefly exhibitions, disregarding the potential harm to the fireflies and the ethical concerns.

 

Summary of 2017 Live Firefly Exhibitions:

In total, 65 commercial firefly exhibitions were actually held throughout 2017.

Efforts by Firefly Eco-line and Volunteers:

Despite the challenging situation where firefly populations were not adequately protected by law, the Firefly Eco-line and its volunteers worked tirelessly to influence and change event plans:

• Pre-event Cancellations: Their efforts led to 17 businesses canceling their firefly exhibitions before the events began.
• Event Halts: Additionally, 7 businesses were compelled to stop their exhibitions during the events.

 

• Green: Events that canceled or abandoned the firefly exhibition segment before it took place.
• Yellow: Events where the commercial firefly exhibition was halted midway through.
• Orange: Events that “successfully” proceeded with the commercial firefly exhibition.

This data highlights the broad array of venues and sectors involved in the live firefly exhibitions, reflecting the widespread commercial interest in these events across different regions and industries.

 

Compared to the incomplete statistics of 121 firefly exhibitions held in 2016 across most regions (covering 74 prefecture-level cities), 2017 can be considered a turning point.

 

For every firefly exhibition we discovered, we made every effort to intervene, although many were only identified after the event had already ended. Each instance where an event was stopped was the result of the diligent efforts of the Firefly Eco-line and volunteers from various regions.

 

One of the most exciting events for firefly enthusiasts across the country in 2017 was on May 24th, when Alibaba released the “Notice on the Prohibition of Selling Wild Live Fireflies.” This action was particularly significant for the protection of firefly populations, especially since it was implemented before the peak season for firefly trading. To understand why this is so important, you can refer to the “2016 Firefly Taobao Data Investigation Report,“ which clearly shows that these concerns are not unfounded.