Some animal species are thriving, while others are forced to evolve…
An abandoned park in Chernobyl.
On April 26, 1986, an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.
Homes, offices, and even amusement parks became eerily empty. No one was allowed to enter the city without a permit.
After humans left Chernobyl, it was believed that the area would become a desolate ghost town. However, it has remarkably revived into a thriving habitat for wildlife.
Mongolian wild horses wandering through a lush city. (Photo: Atlas Obscura).
Today, occasional YouTube creators disturb owls perched on abandoned windows, while hidden cameras capture scenes of wild cattle grazing, lynxes stealthily prowling, and young moose frolicking in puddles.
Photographers capture unexpected moments: foxes posing on empty sidewalks, catfish swimming in cool ponds, and herds of Mongolian wild horses galloping past “danger” signs.
No one expected such a scene. It was thought that the radioactive zone would be harmful not only to humans but also unsuitable for any wildlife for hundreds of years.
However, researchers monitoring mammal populations in this exclusion zone, as well as in the Polesie Ecological Reserve just across the Belarus border, discovered that the number of animals living here is comparable to that in other reserves.
They have observed over 200 bird species, alongside mammals, amphibians, fish, and insects, all in large and stable populations.
Of course, radiation exposure is not beneficial for wildlife. Immediately after the disaster, all the pine trees within 6.4 km of the plant turned yellow and died, necessitating their burial. Invertebrates and small mammals also perished.
Large trees and vines have overtaken many structures in Chernobyl. (Photo: Getty Images).
Years later, scientists found a significant number of asymmetrical insects, albino swallows, and hamsters with cataracts. These traits may be linked to the nuclear accident.
A rusted Ferris wheel in Pripyat, Chernobyl. (Photo: Getty Images).
However, ecologists have begun to realize that any negative impacts observed may be compensated for, and perhaps even outweighed by the benefits, as this area is completely untouched by human influence.
Indeed, some species seem to adapt well to the circumstances. Studies have shown that frogs here are darker, which may help them counteract some of the negative effects of radiation. For certain species, this once-tragic land may now offer a viable living environment.
