Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Fauna Restoration

In the company of Przhevalsky’s horses, which are captured daily by camera traps in the exclusion zone, biologists noticed a domestic horse with a foal. Such a marriage is not recognized by people, but nature has its own laws. In addition, the appearance of a domestic horse in a territory contaminated with radiation testifies to the restoration of the Chernobyl ecosystem and adjacent territories.

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Fauna Restoration

At the beginning of the 2018 year, scientists managed to fix the 48 horses of Przewalski. It is possible that the number of wild animals in 2-3 times larger. According to the head of the Chernobyl reserve, Denis Vishnevsky, horses look healthy, with no signs of a radioactive disease. Given the fact that Przhevalsky’s horses disappeared from their natural habitat, there are no mysteries in the appearance of animals in the exclusion zone. Horses were brought to Chernobyl from Askania-Nova Nature Reserve in the 1998 year.

Despite the absence of people and radiation, the ecological system of the exclusion zone is being restored. Unique species of animals and birds appear, which are listed in the Red Book as far back as the 20 century. Moose, deer, wolves, foxes overwhelm the wild forests of Chernobyl and Pripyat. It is noteworthy that there are an order of magnitude more wolves in the exclusion zone than in neighboring areas.

Paradise for wildlife

The sensation Chernobyl is proud of (exclusion zone) is a brown bear. The clubfoot predator surprised scientists who have not seen a bear since the late 1980's. Ideal conditions are created for the bear. There is river fish in the ponds, and the forest is full of game birds. The absence of hunters in the exclusion zone is another advantage for wild animals.