Firefly larva released into the lake of the Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu Temple. Kindergartners help to preserve nature/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1203120034/

March 13, 2012

Kindergartners releasing young fireflies=The inner grounds of the Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu Temple.

On the 12th, at the Yanagiharashinchi Lake in the temple grounds of the Tsurokahachimanguu Temple (located in Yuni No Shita, Kamakura City), school children from the Tsuruoka Kindergarten released firefly larvae. Although June 9th is the date of the firefly releasing ceremony, they must first reach maturation before emitting light while flying around the lake.

A part of the temple's environmental protection program, it's aimed to educate children on the importance of nature and life. The larva were said to be the "grandchildren" of Namerikawa's firefly squid. (Translation note: The town city of Namerikawa is famous for celebrating the firefly squid.)

50 of this year's kindergarten graduates participated. Along with the 3,000 fireflies, their food in the form of 15,000 snails were placed into the lake.


Original text:
鶴岡八幡宮の池に蛍の幼虫放流、自然保護で幼稚園児ら/鎌倉
2012年3月13日

ホタルの幼虫を放流する園児ら＝鶴岡八幡宮境内

鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）境内の柳原神池（やないはらしんち）で12日、鶴岡幼稚園の園児らがホタルの幼虫を放流した。６月９日に行う蛍放生祭のころには、成虫として光を放ちながら池の周りを飛び交うという。

境内の自然環境保護の一環で、園児らに自然と命の尊さを学んでもらうのが狙い。幼虫は、鎌倉を流れる滑川のホタルの“子孫”という。

今春卒園の50人が参加。幼虫３千匹と餌となるカワニナ１万５千匹を池に流した。