Chernobyl being prowled by mutant wild dogs that have rapidly evolved to SURVIVE nuke fallout, scientists say
CHERNOBYL has transformed wild dogs into radiation hounds who can survive the deadly nuclear fallout, scientists have revealed.
Two stray canine populations have managed to adapt to the uninhabitable conditions in Ukraine for nearly 40 years, transforming man's best friend into a mutant mongrel.
The study used 500 dogs living around Chernobyl, Ukraine, who have managed to live in the harsh landscape through miraculous generational adaptation.
It is believed that understanding how they survived will help scientists learn more about the health risks involved with radiation.
Experts found there were two main groups of dogs – one living around the power plant and another within Chernobyl city.
Researchers identified 52 genes that could be associated with exposure to the contamination of the nuclear power plant.
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All 61 of the nuclear power plant dogs and 52 out of 55 of the Chernobyl city dogs were identified as being at least 10 per cent German Shepherd, according to the study.
Head researcher Dr. Norman J. Kleiman said: “In addition to classifying the population dynamics within these dogs at both locations, we took the first steps towards understanding how chronic exposure to multiple environmental hazards may have impacted these populations.
“Understanding the genetic and health impacts of these chronic exposures in the dogs will strengthen our broader understanding of how these types of environmental hazards can impact humans and how best to mitigate health risks.”
Dr. Matthew Breen from NC State, “The overarching question here is: does an environmental disaster of this magnitude have a genetic impact on life in the region?
“Think of these regions as markers, or signposts, on a highway. They identify areas within the genome where we should look more closely at nearby genes."
Some of the markers point to genes associated with genetic repair, specifically with genetic repair after exposures similar to those experienced by the dogs in Chernobyl.
The research paper reads: “In this foundational study we determined that while the two local populations of dogs are separated by only 16km, they have very low rates of interpopulation migration.
“We also detected genetic evidence that suggests that these population may have adapted to exposures faced over many generations.”
“None of the sampled dogs in either the Nuclear Power Plant or Chernobyl City populations were determined to be purebred, with both populations averaging 25 breed matches per dog.”
What happened at Chernobyl?
THE nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl claimed 31 lives as well as leaving thousands of people and animals exposed to potentially fatal radiation.
When an alarm bellowed out at the nuclear plant on April 26, 1986, workers looked on in horror as the control panels signaled a major meltdown in the number four reactor.
The safety switches had been switched off in the early hours to test the turbine but the reactor overheated and generated a blast - the equivalent of 500 nuclear bombs.
The reactor's roof was blown off and a plume of radioactive material was blasted into the atmosphere.
As air was sucked into the shattered reactor, it ignited flammable carbon monoxide gas
causing a fire which burned for nine days.
The catastrophe released at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Soviet authorities waited 24 hours before evacuating the nearby town of Pripyat - giving the 50,000 residents just three hours to leave their homes.
After the accident traces of radioactive deposits were found in Belarus where poisonous rain damaged plants and caused animal mutations.
But the devastating impact was also felt in Scandinavia, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, France and the UK.
An 18-mile radius known as the “Exclusion Zone” was set up around the reactor following the disaster.
Wildlife has thrived in the absence of hunting, farming, and urban development, turning Chernobyl into an accidental refuge for nature.
In the first few days, radiation levels were so high that plants turned brown and died, and forests close to the reactor were devastated.
This makes it even more incredible that these dog populations managed to not only survive, but learn to live in the barren landscape.
It is believed that dogs were left behind in the disaster by their owners, but they managed to bounce back and stun scientists.
Many of the dogs have formed packs to protect themselves and for companionship.
Some of the dogs have even bonded with the few human scientists who are still over there.
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In recent years, more organizations have stepped in to support the pooches, offering vaccines and adoption programmes.
This study marks the first time scientists have delved into the genetic makeup of stray dogs living near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.