Our 8th Wonder of the World
Shanti Gunaratnam New Straits Times 6 Nov 11;
IT is a show unlike any other, one that has gone on for many decades, if not centuries.
Often regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the biggest attraction in Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, is definitely the fireflies.
Every night, millions of fireflies put on a fabulous display for visitors to this small, sleepy coastal town from within the country and all around the world.
This glittering display transforms the area along the banks of the river in Kampung Kuantan into a fairyland of lights. Some have remarked that they are reminded of Christmas trees.
"People come here from all over the world to see the fireflies.
"It is Kampung Kuantan's biggest attraction, no doubt about that," says Harun Abdullah, who was born and bred in the village.
The 68-year-old imam of the Muhammadiah mosque says Kampung Kuantan and its fireflies are well-known, even in the holy city of Mecca.
"The fireflies are a big thing for us because this particular species, the pteroptyx tener, are rare and can be found in only one other place in the world -- Brazil -- deep in the Amazon jungle," he says.
The pteroptyx tener has been described as the Eighth Wonder of the World by many scientists because it makes three synchronised blinks in one second, making it the brightest of all fireflies.
For over a century, the mangrove forest near Kampung Kuantan has been home to the fireflies, which feed on the leaves of the berembang (sonneratia caselaris) trees.
The nectar in the leaves is what enables the fireflies to produce that 'greenish light'.
The male fireflies flicker their tail lights to attract females. The males glow brighter than the females which glow to show their acquiescence. This species of fireflies has a life span of two to three months.
Harun says visitors flock to Kampung Kuantan because they only need to hop onto a non-motorised boat and travel upstream in the mangrove swamp to take a closer look at the fireflies.
"You can't do this in the Amazon jungles.
"One will need to trek for at least 10 days in the Amazon in order to catch a glimpse of the fireflies in all their glory."
The boat rides, which are available from 7.45pm till about 10.30pm at the jetty, takes between 30 to 45 minutes.
Surrounding Kampung Kuantan are two lesser known villages, Kampung Teluk Penyamun and also Kampung Tanjung Siam.
"Kampung Kuantan and Kampung Tanjung Siam got their names when people from Pahang and Thailand respectively, moved there at the turn of the century," says Kampung Kuantan village headman Hazol Abdullah.
Kampung Teluk Penyamun got its name in the 1900s. The British called it the Bay of Pirates then because the colonialists were often robbed by the locals when they transported tin ore, coal, coconut and rubber by boat along the river.
At that time, the river was used extensively by the British to transport goods.
"The British called the locals pirates, but in reality, the locals were angry with the British for taking away their coal, tin ore, coconut and also rubber.
"Therefore, they retaliated by taking the goods back."
Hazol says the best time to visit Kampung Kuantan is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
"Kampung Kuantan which has about 2,000 residents comes alive during these days and also during the school holidays.
"The jetty is usually filled with visitors eager to watch the best light show on the planet."
