In mid-July, the Forestry Bureau of Ningdu County issued a notice strictly prohibiting any unit, organization, or individual from engaging in illegal activities such as capturing, purchasing, or selling live wild fireflies within the county’s jurisdiction. The notice explicitly states that “for illegal capture, purchase, or sale of live wild fireflies, the county forestry administrative authority will confiscate capturing tools, seize illegal gains, and impose corresponding administrative penalties according to law.” It also calls for citizens to actively supervise and report such activities (reporting hotline: 0797-6832245).
The administrative village under Huangpo Town in Ningdu County has posted the above-mentioned notice, signed by the Forestry Bureau of Ningdu County, dated July 18th.
The following information is sourced from an interview by The Paper News：
The office staff of the Forestry Bureau in Ningdu County confirmed to The Paper that the above-mentioned document exists, and currently, the related work is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Station under the Forestry Bureau. The staff also disclosed to The Paper that fireflies have not yet been listed in the national or Jiangxi province wildlife protection animal list, hence “there is no legal basis” for enforcement.
“However, considering the special circumstances in our county (rampant capture and sale activities), the Forestry Bureau has taken the initiative to assume responsibility for firefly protection. The Provincial Forestry Department is aware of this situation, but the timing for inclusion in the list remains unclear.”