Koblenz is planning a concept against Egyptian geese: Citizens demand animal-friendly solutions!

Koblenz is planning a concept against Egyptian geese: Citizens demand animal-friendly solutions!

In Koblenz the air is becoming thin for the Egyptian geese: these birds apparently feel very comfortable on the banks of the Rhine and Moselle. But this means that the city administration now urgently needs to develop a concept to contain this constantly growing population. On June 26, 2025, the city council decided to instruct the administration to develop an animal-friendly approach to dealing with the Egyptian geese and the Canada geese, which are also on the rise. As the Rhine newspaper reported, there were numerous discussions about the best course of action.

The problems are diverse: The aggressive Egyptian geese, especially during their breeding season, not only upset residents, but also cause unpleasant conflicts in urban green spaces. Citizen conversations clearly show that many people feel a natural discomfort when geese behave dangerously. Cyclists and pedestrians are particularly affected, as they often have to share space with animals, as city council member Stephan Wefelscheid from the Free Voters noted in a meeting.

A comprehensive concept is being planned

According to the Green Party Koblenz several central aspects come to the fore. These include, among other things, ensuring public cleanliness and taking species and water protection into account. In addition, attention should be paid to potential health risks that can arise from the large number of geese. High animal populations not only lead to significant contamination of sidewalks, lawns and even playgrounds, but also to increased nutrient pollution of the waters due to the passageway shit, which subsequently affects the water quality in the bank areas.

Another issue that the city administration wants to address is the increasing competition between Egyptian geese and native birds for breeding sites and food. The aim is to find a balanced and legally secure approach - for harmonious coexistence in Koblenz.

Egyptian geese – insight into their origin and distribution

The Egyptian goose, originally from Africa south of the Sahara and Egypt, has now established itself as a non-native species in Germany. According to that NABU There are now over 7,500 breeding pairs of this bird species in Germany. Despite their increasing distribution, the assessment of Egyptian geese as invasive is still controversial. Recent studies suggest that they do not have significant negative effects on other species. Nevertheless, Germany is obliged to draw up a management plan for Egyptian geese. This is also being addressed in the responsible federal states in order to achieve a balance between the various interests.

Currently, hunting measures to reduce the population are only permitted in nine federal states, but this does not have the desired impact on the population. Experts such as NABU favor non-lethal methods such as a feeding ban to control the animals and reduce the burden on public areas. The upcoming measures in Koblenz could represent an important example for other municipalities of how one can harmoniously deal with an increasingly common animal species.