Decades after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a population of wild dogs living near the exclusion zone is providing scientists with valuable insights into the effects of long-term radiation on generations of animals.
Following the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, radioactive contamination devastated the local environment.
Chernobyl dogs
Residents fled, leaving behind pets that have since bred and established a unique population of about 900 semi-feral dogs. Researchers have discovered that these dogs, descendants of abandoned pets, exhibit distinct genetic differences depending on their exposure levels to radiation.
Recent studies by the Dogs of Chernobyl research project, which also offers veterinary care, involved analysing blood samples from over 300 dogs collected between 2017 and 2019. The findings revealed significant genetic mutations within packs in areas with varying contamination levels. These mutations parallel what has been seen in atomic bomb survivors, such as increased cataract rates.
The dogs’ genetic backgrounds also vary by location; for instance, dogs in Chernobyl city show a mix of Boxer and Rottweiler, while those in Slavutych have more Labrador Retriever heritage. This genetic diversity makes them ideal subjects for studying the long-term impacts of radioactive environments on large mammals.
Looking for loving homes
Research has identified 15 distinct packs within a 45-kilometre radius of the nuclear plant. The dogs tend to mate within nearby groups with similar radiation exposure levels. The study indicates that these animals live close to each other, move between sites, and breed freely.
As organisations like the Clean Futures Fund and SPCA International work to care for these dogs, including vaccination and sterilisation, volunteers are also preparing puppies for adoption, hoping to find them loving homes.
While these pups continue to interest scientists, we hope they can find a forever home that will give them the love they deserve.
