Chernobyl, Ukraine — On contaminated land that is too dangerous for human life, the world’s wildest horses roam freely.
Across the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Przewalski’s horses – fat, sand-coloured and almost toy-like in appearance – graze across a radioactive landscape larger than Luxembourg.
An explosion occurred on April 26, 1986 nuclear power plant Ukraine sent radiation across Europe and forced the evacuation of entire towns, displacing thousands of people. This was the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Four decades later, Chernobyl – translated as “Chornobyl” in Ukraine – remains very dangerous for humans. But the wildlife has gone back inside.
Wolves are now exploring areas spread across vast no-man’s-lands ukraine and Belarus, and brown bears have returned after more than a century. populations of lynx, moose, red deer and even free-roaming packs of dogs Have hit back.
Przewalski’s horses, native of mongolia And once on the verge of extinction, they were introduced here as an experiment in 1998.
Known as “takhi” (“spirit”) in Mongolia, the horses differ from domestic breeds in having 33 pairs of chromosomes compared to 32 in domesticated horses. The modern name comes from the Russian explorer who first formally identified them.
“The fact that there are independent populations in Ukraine now is a small miracle,” said Denis Vyshnevsky, the region’s leading naturalist.
With human pressure gone, parts of the exclusion zone now resemble European landscapes of centuries ago, he said. He said, “Nature heals relatively quickly And effectively.”
Change is visible everywhere. Trees pierce abandoned buildings, roads merge into the forest, and signs from Soviet times stand near wooden crosses in old cemeteries.
Hidden cameras show the horses adapting in unexpected ways. They seek shelter in dilapidated barns and abandoned houses, and use them to escape harsh weather and insects – even bedding down inside.
The animals live in small social groups – usually a stallion with several mares and their foals – with separate groups of smaller males. Many died after their introduction, but others adapted.
It takes time to track them down. Vishnevsky would often drive alone for hours, setting motion-sensitive camera traps in camouflaged trees attached to trees.
Despite persistent radiation, scientists have not recorded widespread mortality, although subtle effects are evident. The skin color of some frogs has become darker, and birds in areas with high radiation are more likely to develop cataracts.
However, new threats have emerged.
of russia 2022 brought the invasion As the troops advanced towards Kiev, fighting through the exclusion zone, digging defenses in the contaminated soil. Fires related to military activities spread through forests.
The harsh winter of the war also had a huge impact. Damage to the power grid has left nearby managed areas without resources, and scientists report an increase in the number of fallen trees and dead animals – casualties caused by both the extreme conditions and hastily built fortifications.
“Most wildfires are caused by downed drones,” said Oleksandr Polischuk, who leads a firefighting unit in the area. “Sometimes we have to travel dozens of kilometers to reach them.”
Fire can send radioactive particles back into the air.
Today, the area is no longer just a casual haven for wildlife. It has become a heavily monitored military corridor, marked by concrete barriers, barbed wire and landmines – a landscape that some describe as of grim beauty.
Personnel rotate in and out to limit radiation exposure. Chernobyl is likely to remain off limits for generations – very dangerous for people, yet full of life.
“For those of us working in conservation and ecology, this is a surprise,” Vaishnavsky said. “This land was once used extensively – agriculture, cities, infrastructure. But nature has effectively reset the factory.”
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Associated Press writers Dmytro Zihinas and Vasilisa Stepanenko contributed to this report.
