Overview

• The 'Rhein in Flammen' festival on May 3, 2025, drew 100,000 attendees but faced disruptions from severe weather and an unauthorized drone, which led to the cancellation of a planned drone show.
• A 14-minute fireworks display during the event reportedly caused panic among waterbirds, with at least one swan found dead the following morning, attributed to a collision caused by fright.
• Animal rescuers, led by Stefan Bröckling, condemned the fireworks, citing significant risks to birds during their breeding season, and vowed to campaign against future displays.
• On May 7, the City of Bonn announced it had hired a planning office to monitor the fireworks' impact on local bird populations and prepare for a scientific investigation next year.
• The festival, a nearly 40-year-old tradition, is contracted to run through 2026, but growing calls from conservationists have intensified debates over balancing tradition with ecological concerns.