The accident caused the death of 31 people and the direct evacuation of more than 116,000 people, and caused levels of radioactivity in at least 13 countries in Europe. The high levels of radioactivity produced catastrophic effects on fauna and flora, converting highly polluting areas for life. After the accident, 30km radius exclusion zone was created around the nuclear power plant.
Due to radiation, it was thought that the exclusion zone would not recover for life, but the data has shown us the opposite. After the first 6 months where the fauna population was affected both in their reproduction and in their health, the number of mammals has increased year after year at the same level or higher than in natural parks in the area. The Polesie State Radioecological Reserve (acronym PSRER) is a radioecological nature reserve in the Polesie region of Belarus, which was created to enclose the territory of Belarus most affected by the radioactive consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
Since 1993, the total area of the reserve has been 2,162 km2 (835 square miles), making it the largest nature reserve in Belarus and one of the largest in Europe. It is located in the southern Gomel region and borders Ukraine's exclusion zone.
For 30 years, it has been a closed area, where research and experimental activities were carried out. Currently the reserve is home to many endangered species among which is our beloved horse Przewalski.
In 1998 the first 31 individuals were introduced into the Ukrainian exclusion zone, 10 males and 18 females, from the Askania Nova nature reserve. After a high mortality associated with the transfer and poaching that decimated the population in the first 10 years. Starting in 2007, intense protection measures were carried out that have allowed the population of the Przewalski horse to increase.
In 2018, a census was carried out, which revealed that some 150 members live in the Ukrainian part of the Exclusion Zone, 22 foals born, and it was observed that part of the population had moved northward and had settled in the Zone of Exclusion of Belarus, the current Poleise State Radioecological Reserve.
Conservation work has allowed us to observe that despite being a species associated with the steppe, in Chernobyl these horses use the forest with great frequency, including the "red forest", one of the most radioactive areas in the world.
links:
Long-term census data reveal abundant wildlife populations at Chernobyl.
Ten years of development of the Przewalski horse poulation in the Chernobyl Exclusive Zone.