Sensitive zones: Animal welfare on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is pure stress for most animals. Therefore our urgent appeal: Do not use firecrackers in the sensitive areas around the animal shelter, the wildlife park, the city park, nature reserves, etc. Rico, Karl, Toulouse and Co say: Thank you and all the best for the New Year!

Fireworks at New Year's Eve – for many people, this is a ritual. For many animals, however, New Year's Eve means pure stress: they are often so frightened by the deafening noise, the bright flashes, and the unfamiliar smells that they suffer lasting damage and can die as a result.

In Mainz, animals in shelters, in the Gonsenheim Wildlife Park and in the city park, as well as in nature reserves, are among those affected.

Please be considerate and avoid setting off fireworks in these sensitive areas.

Sensitized information campaign

In 2024 and 2025, an information campaign raised awareness among residents living near the Mainz animal shelter and Mainz Zoo facilities (Gonsenheim Wildlife Park and the enclosures in the city park) about animal welfare on New Year's Eve and called for greater consideration. The campaign had the desired effect: Mainz residents showed consideration, and New Year's Eve was noticeably quieter and more relaxed for the animals around the animal shelter, the wildlife park, and the city park. Thank you very much!

Together for a peaceful turn of the year

Karla the light silver rabbit, Der kleine Mann the billy goat, and Rico the parrot represent the animals at Gonsenheim Wildlife Park and the facilities in the city park. Dog Grigore and pigeon Hedwig are residents of the animal shelter in Zwerchallee. Cat Toulouse—who has since been successfully rehomed—is also happy to be a house cat and, together with the other animals, asks: No fireworks here!

Animals in the wild also want a peaceful New Year's Eve: to ensure that hedgehogs, for example, are not disturbed during hibernation and birds are not hit by fireworks, fireworks should not be set off in their immediate habitats or neighborhoods.

Donations instead of firecrackers

The animals at the Mainz animal shelter and wildlife park welcome donations:

Mainz Animal
Shelter Donation Link (opens in a new tab)

Friends of Mainz-Gonsenheim Wildlife Park Association
Account number IBAN DE67 5509 1200 0081 854807 GENODE61AZY

Partner

Animal welfare on New Year's Eve – a joint campaign by the state capital of Mainz together with the Mainz Animal Welfare Association and the Friends of Mainz-Gonsenheim Wildlife Park Association.