1 week Ago
And, unbelievably, today is the 39th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster when radioactive isotopes, caesium-137 and strontium-90, were released into the atmosphere from a power plant on Pripyat, Ukraine (which was then part of the Soviet Union) on April 26, 1986. At the time, two workers were killed instantly but 29 others succumbed to acute radiation syndrome over the next few weeks. Estimates of cancer cases caused by the radiation vary from four to sixty thousand.
Astonishingly, the half-life of these isotopes is around 30 years, so the radioactive threat they pose will continue for many, many generations. Much has been made of the effect on humans but, in amongst articles on wobbling Shih Tzus, breathless Labradors and hypercalcaemic cats, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s magazine, ‘Companion’ published a fascinating story about the dogs that were left behind when around 120,000 people were evacuated. (Barring, of course, those that refused to go and are still alive.
) We tend to forget the suffering, don’t we? Can you imagine being removed from your home and having to leave your beloved pet to its own devices, lest they had drunk contaminated water or carried radioactive dust on their coat? It seems that, shortly after the horrific event, the Soviet Army was called upon to shoot the abandoned dogs, but the soldiers weren’t happy about it and the dogs got too crafty anyway. Thereafter, guess what? Survival of the fittest! Pretty soon most of the cats got eaten, and now only about 10 resilient individuals remain. The smaller dogs and especially the extreme breeds died out pretty quickly too.
Of an estimated 400 puppies that were born every year, half would die before they were a year old and another half again before they were two. Now, thanks to a non-profit organisation called the Clear Futures Fund, a three year long ‘trap, neuter, vaccinate, worm and release’ project has reduced the population around the old nuclear plant to around 150 much healthier individuals, though few seek human contact. Despite this, tourists (yes, you can have a guided tour of Chernobyl!) are encouraged to feed, but not pet, the dogs.
Indeed, a 2023 study carried out by the University of Carolina showed that Chernobyl’s dogs have unique genetic profiles, with their DNA differing from other dog populations, reflecting adaptations to the radioactive environment. And then there is something remarkable. Lucas Hixson, co-founder of the non-profit Clear Futures Fund, said: "There is very little parvovirus or distemper in these Ukrainian dogs, and it appears to be the only population of free roaming dogs anywhere in the world where there is no evidence of canine transmissible venereal tumours.
" Since these tumours are sensitive to radiotherapy, there might, perhaps, at least be some benefit to living in an area with constant levels of radiation. Though personally, I wouldn’t recommend it..
