Prague gives up New Year’s Eve fireworks to avoid disturbing birds

Prague, one of the main European tourist destinations on New Year’s Eve, will not celebrate with Fireworks the entry into the new year so as not to disturb the birds that hibernate next to the Vltava River, and will also invite citizens to the zoo on the first day of 2024 for a symbolic price.

“On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, children up to 15 years old will have access to the zoo for a symbolic price of 4 euro cents. And on New Year’s that extends to all Prague residents,” zoo spokesman Filip Masek reported today.

For the fourth time in a row, the Czech capital will not institutionally organize New Year’s Eve and New Year’s fireworks, and the reason is that the river “represents a significant hibernation site for aquatic birds,” according to the city council spokesperson.

Every year there were reports of swans and seagulls injured when they collided with cables in their attempt to escape from the fireworks.

Prague had its last pyrotechnic display in 2019, and the following year, during the Covid-19 pandemic, celebrating with fireworks was only allowed in certain areas, always away from the river.

Prague has also launched the campaign “This year without firecrackers”, in which he urges visitors, with a message in Czech and English, to celebrate these Christmas holidays without these explosive devices.