The “Radioactive” Dogs of Chernobyl
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By Bill Hoagland
Two weeks ago, someone launched a drone that struck the roof covering the highly radioactive portion of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Site in Ukraine and it briefly caught on fire. For me, it was a reminder that I know very little about Chernobyl, the worst nuclear accident ever. In doing some initial research after this drone incident, I was surprised to learn that ever since the 1986 Chernobyl accident, dogs have been living on their own in and around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone despite extensive nuclear radiation in the area. And guess what—they appear to be relatively healthy and for the most part, friendly with humans. (You can check them out on YouTube. Yes, there are some cuties.)
But let’s back up a bit. In April 1986, there was a significant explosion at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine and a subsequent meltdown in one of the reactors. More than 9,000 people in the area are said to have eventually died from the exposure. On the day of the explosion, 200,000 people living in the area were forced to evacuate the area and all of them were prohibited from taking their pets with them. Many of those pets died from exposure to the radiation but somehow, many other dogs survived it. And believe it or not, those dogs who survived the explosion are the genetic ancestors of hundreds of dogs who are living today in and around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. These are the so-called “radioactive” dogs of Chernobyl.
Until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, people from outside the Soviet Union were prohibited from traveling to Chernobyl but once Ukraine became independent, tourists began touring “safe” portions of the Chernobyl power plant. It was at this point that dog lovers discovered that there were hundreds of stray dogs at Chernobyl and this triggered a stream of veterinarians, scientists and others who began rendering care for these animals, with vaccinations, sterilizations, food and in some cases, adoptions. Unfortunately, most of this care came to a halt with the Covid pandemic and then the Russian invasion, so things have been bleak for four years. The dogs are receiving some food from workers at the Chernobyl site but it is sporadic because of the war. For now, the Ukraine government is not allowing these dogs to be removed from Chernobyl out of concern for ongoing radiation issues even though geiger meter readings do not suggest that these animals are “radioactive” at this point. For the most part, the biggest health problem for these dogs relates to inbreeding, rabies infestations and predators. Right now, the average lifespan for a Chernobyl dog is between one and three years, which is roughly about the same as red foxes living in my neck of the woods. Life is tough out on the streets for our four-legged friends no matter where they live.
If and when the war ends, scientists are anxious to study DNA and genetic samples for these dogs that have genetically survived this extensive radiation exposure. This study could go a long way toward predicting how our own DNA might react to prolonged exposure to radiation–a gruesome possibility, whether we care to think about it or not. I hope we get that opportunity to study these dogs and in the process, make life better for the “radioactive” dogs of Chernobyl.
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■ Bill Hoagland has practiced law in Alton for more than 50 years, but he has spent more than 70 years hunting, fishing and generally being in the great outdoors. His wife, Annie, shares his love of the outdoor life. Much of their spare time is spent on their farm in Calhoun County. Bill can be reached at [email protected].
