Tiergarten Worms — Day of the Fire Salamander

The fire salamander — symbol animal of the Central European deciduous forest

The fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is with its black-yellow pattern one of the most conspicuous native amphibian species. It inhabits damp deciduous and mixed forests, emerges from its hiding places at night and in rain, and is at once fascinating and endangered. The fungal disease Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), introduced from Asia, threatens European salamander populations massively. Habitat loss and traffic deaths are added to this.

Engagement of the Tiergarten Worms

The Tiergarten Worms keeps fire salamanders as ambassador animals and is committed to the preservation of the species. Staff regularly document regional populations, participate in scientific recording programs and convey knowledge about amphibians and reptiles in school cooperations. The Day of the Fire Salamander makes this engagement visible to a broad audience.

Program for families

The program is clearly oriented towards children and families. Animal keepers show fire salamanders up close and explain life cycle, behaviour and food. At hands-on stations, children can build salamander hideouts from natural material, craft salamander masks and answer quiz questions about native amphibians. A picture exhibition documents the diversity of native amphibian species — from grass frog through common toad to alpine newt.

What can each individual do?

A central educational focus is the question of what individuals can do to protect the salamanders: nature-close garden with leaf piles and dead wood, foregoing gravel and sealed areas, caution in road traffic in rain, do not remove animals from nature, do not release exotic amphibians into nature (Bsal spreading risk). These messages are conveyed in a child-friendly way and at the same time scientifically founded for adults.

Embedded in the Worms Tiergarten summer series

The Day of the Fire Salamander concludes the summer event series of the Worms Tiergarten. Preceded in June by the Midsummer Night (St. John's Night) and the great family summer festival. The Day of the Fire Salamander marks the transition to the quieter autumn season of the Tiergarten.