The Tatra chamois (source: Karol Kaliský)
“The use of fireworks and devices producing light and sound effects is banned in our national parks by law and violators are fined,” TANAP director Pavol Majko said, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
The mountainous Tatras reservation park, with its valleys and rock reefs, affords excellent conditions for the propagation of acoustic waves, according to Majko. Thus the explosions and flashes caused by fireworks carry for great distances, with the intensity of noise decreasing only slowly with distance.
“With protected species, such as the Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica), the excessive noise in the form of explosions, intensified by echos reverberating from rock formations, might cause stress with subsequent uncontrolled behaviour,” Majko said, as quoted by TASR. “This often results with the flight of chamois herds to avalanche terrains, where, in case of setting an avalanche into motion, the entire herd might perish.”
With wildlife, another effect of stress is the excessive physical activity accompanied by intense burning of fat reserves, which heightens the risk of death in difficult winter weather due to cold and exhaustion.
“We hope that we’ll all enjoy pleasant celebrations in the heart of beautiful nature of the Tatras National Park without the intrusion of fireworks,” Majko said, as quoted by TASR.
