The Wild Resurgence of Chernobyl

European bison (Bison bonasus), boreal lynx (Lynx lynx), moose (Alces alces) 
and brown bear (Ursus arctos) photographed inside Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukraine).

I'm quite fascinated by articles and reports from areas on Planet Earth which may have been stripped bare by humans or are abandoned because of disasters our species have caused. I've written about these on a number of occasions, often because the news of restoration is surprisingly positive in some circumstances. Forests regenerate, and fish return. One example is the Chernobyl exclusion zone where there has been a resurgence in wildlife, despite the high levels of radioactivity from the nuclear disaster of 1986. 

A recent article from the World Economic Forum entitled What's Going on in Chernobyl Today? includes photos of critters which had long disappeared from the area because of the proximity of humans. They include herds of wild horses, and packs of wolves.No one can predict the long-term health for these returning species but for the moment they are signs of hope. 



Humans are coming back for tours of abandoned towns and the surrounding countryside, but there are also some people who continue to live there despite the health risks. They are nearly all elderly women who are living there "under the radar" (under the radiation?) so they can be in their own homes rather than warehoused in unfamiliar places.

There are times when it is important for humans to intervene in natural processes and habitats, to be stewards of Creation as Genesis suggests, We can also keep in mind that the Creation myth which begins our Christian bible speaks of the richness and diversity which the Creator brings about without the involvement of the first Groundlings. I want to pay attention to these stories and pass them on as often as possible. It's vital that we humans practice humility, to be "down to earth" for the sake of our planet. And we need the hopeful examples of what can happen when we get out of the way. 



The Babushkas of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone