Firefly park hopeful of opening despite row
Print Edition
A CONTROVERSIAL park for fireflies plans to open as scheduled on Friday even though it is still working to get an approval from authorities yet.
The privately-owned park in Songjiang District has been criticized by experts and environmental groups who have questioned if the fireflies were caught in the wild.
Catching wild fireflies will threaten the ecosystem and probably lead to species invasion in the places where they are displayed, experts warned.
“The cost of artificially breeding a firefly is about 10 yuan (US$1.61). It is impossible that operator of a commercial project will breed fireflies on such a large scale,” said Fu Xinhua, an expert on fireflies and associate professor at the Huazhong Agricultural University in Hubei Province.
About 2,000 tickets have been booked following intensive promotion on the social media, said a staff member of the Wuhan Junyou Business Management Co Ltd, the park’s operator.
The staffer surnamed Tu said visitors will be able to see tens of thousands of fireflies at the park. The official admission ticket is 80 yuan but they are being sold for 69 yuan online.
Sun Hongjian, an official with the Songjiang District Tourism Administration, said the documents submitted by the park operator for approval were incomplete. She said a number of documents relating to pricing, safety plans, protection of species brought from outside Shanghai, were still required.
Besides, different government departments were involved and it would be a while before the necessary clearance can be given.
Sun also wondered if the park’s simple 800-square-meter shed would be able to withstand a strong typhoon.
Environmental groups like Shanghai Daorong Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development Center have also voiced opposition against the park. They have demanded a scientific evaluation report.
Tu insisted that all documents had been submitted to the authorities and the park would open as promised — from Friday until October 7.
He said the park would limit the number of tourists for safety reasons. He also claimed that all fireflies were artificially bred in other provinces.
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