More than 30 years ago, a nuclear power plant accident occurred in Chernobyl, in the territory of the then USSR. On the international INES scale, it was marked with the highest grade 7. The only other accident of this grade was the accident in Fukushima (2011). The Chernobyl forest is changing and taking on a completely different shape than it had before the accident. In one of the projects, scientists are studying the ecosystem of the Chernobyl forest and are really surprised by the results.

The aim of the study was to find out what species of animals occur in this area and what is their abundance. The results of the survey called for a huge response from biologists. It turned out that after three decades, the number of animals there not only did not decrease, but on the contrary, the individual populations grew significantly. Today, herds of deer and roe deer, elk and other tall species graze in this area. The population of wolves has grown significantly, which was not the case in these parts before.

Is a "buried dog" really in radiation?

Scientists are of the opinion that the cause of such an increase in the populations of these species is not actually radiation, but the essential factor is the absence of man.

It is known that radiation generally has the opposite effect. In most cases, it affects the reproductive organs and the animal dies without leaving offspring. But the results of the work of scientists at Chernobyl shocked the whole world.

Not only did the Chernobyl deer and elk survive, but they also cared for numerous offspring, including three-headed or legless individuals. With animal invalids the scientists did not meet. This means that the inhabitants of Chernobyl forest are healthy and fertile individuals who are doing well.

Lift among biologists

Časopis Current Biology published an article describing that not only widespread species survived in the Chernobyl Forest, but also those that are endangered, such as the European lynx.

The researchers also found that there was a brown bear in the area, which last appeared in these places about 100 years ago. In addition, they studied populations of wild boar, wolves and foxes.

Professor of the University of Portsmouth, Jim Smith, assumes that a natural reserve was created in Chernobyl due to the absence of the human factor.

It is clear that the effect of radiation has not had a positive effect on animals, but we know from experience that a person is able to apply a much greater hit.

And that does not stop

A few years ago, the Chernobyl wolves multiplied so much that they set out to search for new territories. In 2013, Belarusian hunters (at the behest of the government) started shooting wolves, which began to appear in larger packs on the southern border.

Currently, 40 cameras are installed in the Chernobyl Forest, which monitor events and from which scientists analyze the outputs. They are particularly interested in lynxes, bison, wild horses and bears.