Drones increasingly threaten wildlife around Königssee

More drones are flying over bird and nature reserves and national parks, creating a growing threat to wildlife, BR reported on Wednesday. Conservationists say pilots often show too little respect for nature, particularly around Königssee.

The Bavarian Association for the Protection of Birds, or LBV, considers the disturbances a serious problem. Drone flights over nature reserves can also lead to legal consequences.

“Hobby pilots have no respect for nature and disturb the animals,” said Thomas Aumer, the organisation’s head of species protection. Drones have become affordable, he said, and many people buy them for fun or to create attractive footage for social media. For animals, however, the flights are a catastrophe.

Berchtesgaden National Park is home to rare and protected species including golden eagles, ibex, marmots and chamois. Rangers say drones are increasingly threatening these animals there. The aircraft cause stress because the animals’ instincts interpret danger from above.

A spokesperson for Berchtesgaden National Park said drone flights were particularly common around Königssee. When rangers detect illegal flights, they report the violations, although identifying the pilots is often difficult.

Under Germany’s Air Traffic Regulations, operating drones over nature reserves, national parks and protected biotopes is prohibited without explicit permission. In Upper Bavaria, exceptions are handled by the South Bavaria Aviation Office in Munich, which coordinates closely with the responsible conservation authorities.

Bavaria has 674 areas protected under the European Union’s Habitats Directive and 84 bird protection areas. Upper Bavaria contains 148 Habitats Directive areas and 26 bird protection areas.