Chernobyl at 40: Wildlife Flourishes as Human Absence Transforms Exclusion Zone

52 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Apr 22

Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, the exclusion zone remains hazardous for humans but has seen a remarkable resurgence of wildlife.
Species such as Przewalski’s horses, wolves, and bears now thrive in the contaminated landscape, with scientists noting nature’s resilience despite persistent radiation.
Experts stress that the most significant change is the absence of humans, while Chernobyl stands as a stark reminder of human error and environmental recovery.

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Forty years after the disaster, what secrets remain buried in Soviet archives?

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Beyond radiation-eating fungi, what other strange life forms thrive inside the reactor?

How did Chernobyl help end one empire and become a pawn in a new war?