Nuclear radiation quickly spread, causing vast swathes of plants to wither and die. The once-thriving area around Chernobyl soon turned into a “forbidden zone” where no one dared to tread.
After the disaster, almost all residents evacuated in a panic within hours, and the place where humans once lived became a desolate “wasteland.”
A few years ago, Professor Norman Kleiman, an environmental health scientist from Columbia University, led his research team back into this abandoned zone and astonishingly discovered a pack of dogs surviving among the ruins. 
Surprisingly, these dogs not only reproduced but also formed two groups of about 900 dogs in total — with some dogs even living near the nuclear power plant!
Research shows that these dogs, through decades of evolution in the deadly radiation zone of Chernobyl, have undergone genetic mutations…
Today, Chernobyl remains a desolate ghost town. Abandoned buildings, crumbling walls, and empty streets devoid of life, with only the wind’s eerie howl.
The radiation levels here reach 11.28 millirems, six times the amount a normal worker can safely endure.
However, precisely because humans no longer venture here, without hunting, farming, or urban development, it has become a sanctuary for nature, where many wild animals, including these “radiation hounds,” thrive.
These dogs’ “ancestors” were pets abandoned after the 1986 disaster, becoming witnesses to the ruins along with humans.
They lost their owners but survived through sheer instinct, enduring harsh winters, limited food, and persistent radiation, forming stable populations on this radiation-scarred, radioactive land.
Perhaps their ancestors were once someone’s pet dogs, but through generations of breeding, they are no longer “purebreds,” instead incorporating traits from up to 25 different breeds, becoming more wild and adaptable.
Since 2017, scientists have begun long-term monitoring of these dog packs.
Through research, they discovered that these dog packs are divided into two large populations:
One lives near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, while the other is scattered within the abandoned city of Chernobyl.
Surprisingly, despite being only 16 kilometers apart, these two groups rarely migrate between each other, with significant genetic differences.
Moreover, as suspected, the dog packs living in this nuclear-polluted area have undergone genetic mutations through multiple generations of breeding, gaining enhanced survival abilities.
Scientists, through in-depth analysis of their genes, found 391 “abnormal loci,” including 52 mutations related to nuclear radiation.
Researchers speculate that these dog packs have developed specific genetic markers through natural selection, helping them survive and reproduce in a radiation-polluted environment.
These mutations are likely related to DNA repair, cell cycle signaling, radiation response, calcium ion binding, and immune function, allowing them to survive in this harsh environment and re-form populations.
Some even speculate that these “radiation hounds” have now developed immunity to radiation, heavy metals, and other pollutants.
However, despite these “mutant dogs” possessing such formidable survival abilities, they do not resemble the terrifying monsters from movies, with strong limbs and fierce aggression, ready to attack humans at any moment.
In fact, they look no different from regular dogs on the outside.
These dog packs are relatively stable, living in small groups and having some contact with humans.
They scavenge for food left by workers in the Chernobyl work zone and occasional visitors and have established connections with scientists stationed there long-term.
As time has passed, attention to these dogs has increased. Various organizations and institutions have stepped in, providing vaccinations, medical services, and even adoption programs, giving some dogs the chance to leave the exclusion zone and start anew in safer places.
Scientists indicate that these dogs are not just survivors of this abandoned zone but also important subjects for scientific research.
Compared to lab mice, dogs’ ways of fighting cancer are more similar to humans, thus providing crucial clues on how organisms adapt in harsh environments.
By analyzing these dogs’ genetic changes in Chernobyl, researchers discover that their survival strategies might offer key information on how to address environmental hazards like nuclear radiation.
Dr. Kleiman states:
“Studying the genetic and health impacts of chronic radiation exposure on these dogs will help us better understand how these environmental hazards affect humans and assist in finding the best methods to mitigate health risks.”
Besides these dogs, other animal groups have also found refuge in this area almost devoid of human activity.
For example, the wolf population density in the Chernobyl exclusion zone is seven times that of the surrounding protected areas, and their genetic studies show these wolves have developed cancer resistance.
The American Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology described these wolves as “similar to cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.”
Some bird species in the Chernobyl area, like sparrows and warblers, have experienced feather discoloration, malformed toes, beaks, and eyes.
Another study pointed out that tree frogs within the exclusion zone are darker in color than those outside.
Scientists collected samples from over 200 male frogs from 12 ponds, discovering that the frogs living in the Chernobyl exclusion zone were noticeably darker in color than those outside, a “color difference” thought to be related to changes in melanin.
Scientists believe this is because melanin can resist damage from various radiations, clearing and neutralizing ionizing molecules within cells, like reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing cell damage caused by radiation.
After the news reports, there have been discussions:
“This isn’t some genetic superpower; it’s just evolution at work. They were forced to evolve rapidly to survive, or else they’d either go extinct or adapt.”
“It’s been almost 40 years, roughly 20 generations of dogs. They’ve adapted to this environment. For humans, experiencing 20 generations would take about 200 years.”
“One day, humans will leave this planet, but animals and nature will continue to thrive.”
It really feels quite miraculous… Life finds a way.
