Forty years after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine has become an unlikely sanctuary for one of the world’s rarest horses.
Przewalski’s horses, once extinct in the wild, are flourishing in the radioactive landscape where humans cannot safely live.
The stocky, sand-colored horses, known as “takhi” in Mongolia, were reintroduced to the zone in 1998 as part of a conservation experiment. Today, they roam freely across the contaminated area, which spans more than 1,000 square miles — larger than Luxembourg, per euronews.
While the zone remains too dangerous for permanent human habitation, wildlife populations have rebounded dramatically. Przewalski’s horses represent one of the most visible success stories.
According to the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, the horses have adapted well to the environment. They graze on vegetation, shelter in abandoned buildings, and have formed stable herds. Their numbers have grown steadily since the initial releases.
Other species have also returned in force. Lynx, moose, red deer, wolves, and packs of feral dogs now inhabit the zone. Scientists describe the area as a de facto nature reserve where nature has reclaimed the land, per PBS.
Przewalski’s horses are the last truly wild horse subspecies. Unlike domestic horses, they have 33 pairs of chromosomes instead of 32. Native to the steppes of Mongolia, they were declared extinct in the wild in the 1960s due to hunting and habitat loss. Captive breeding programs saved the species, and reintroduction efforts began in several locations, including Chernobyl.
Researchers monitor the horses using camera traps and field observations. Studies show they avoid areas with the highest radiation levels but otherwise appear unaffected by chronic low-level exposure. Their ability to thrive has been called a “small miracle” by conservationists marking the 40th anniversary of the disaster.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Przewalski’s horses as endangered, with roughly 2,000 individuals worldwide, most in captivity or rewilded areas. The Chernobyl population contributes to global efforts to restore the species to its natural range.
