When the Light Hurts Nature: Light Pollution and Urban Wildlife in the Philippines

Kia Piñero

doi:10.64591/rz1k7159

Authors

Kia P. Piñero College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zamboanga City, 7000, Philippines Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64591/rz1k7159

Keywords:

Light Pollution, Nocturnal Wildlife, Urban Ecology

Abstract

This essay examines how pervasive nighttime lighting in Philippine cities disrupts the behavior and life cycles of nocturnal wildlife—fireflies, bats, frogs, and insects. It highlights documented declines and displacements, explores the sources of light pollution, and proposes mitigation strategies like downward‐facing fixtures, selective dimming, and policy measures to balance human safety with ecological preservation.

References

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Dela Cruz, R.-A. (2021). A comparative analysis of the extent of light pollution in Mandaluyong and Pasig. Journal of Biological & Environmental Sciences, 19(1), 32–40.

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PIA. (2022, May 16). Dim the lights for birds at night. Philippine Information Agency. https://mirror.pia.gov.ph/press-releases/2022/05/16/dimming-the-lights-for-birds-at-night

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