"Exclusion Zone" in Chernobyl became a paradise for wildlife

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was a disaster not only for the locals. Under attack appeared and the local flora and fauna: the fallout does not distinguish species and dangerous for everyone. Besides birds and animals out of the danger zone no evacuated, and the first time the death rate among them exceeds the limit. But now, almost 30 years later, the wild nature of this region is booming.

Radiation levels in the "exclusion zone" is still elevated. However, judging by the state of the local nature, radiation - mere trifle compared to the man. And in the absence of human nature blooms and plant and animal populations multiplied. A study conducted by a group of ecologists from Belarus, Europe and the United States, showed that in the long term nuclear disaster turned to nature factor rather favorable, and the number of large mammals - from moose and beavers to wild boars and wolves - are here today are much higher than before the accident.

Especially flourished wolves, which number in the "exclusion zone" now seven times higher than the number of these predators in nearby nature reserves and parks. "Data about the many different kinds of animals in the vicinity of the epicenter of the accident to illustrate the flexibility and resilience of natural ecosystems that are exempt from human pressure," - adds one of the authors, the American researcher Jim Beasley (Jim Beasley).

"All this does not mean that the radiation useful life, - emphasizes his colleague from the UK Jim Smith (Jim Smith). - This is just a result of the absence of human activities - hunting, agriculture and forestry - which naturally causes much more damage. "

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