Thriving Herd of Horses Remains in the Nuclear Wasteland of Chernobyl, Labeled as the Final Wild Equine Breed on Earth
In the heart of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), a burgeoning animal population has taken root, and none more so than the Przewalski's horses. These horses, often described as the world's last wild horses, have turned parts of the CEZ into an impromptu sanctuary.
Since 1998, 36 Przewalski's horses were released into the CEZ, and their population later expanded north into Belarus's Polesie State Radioecological Reserve. A long-term study from 2015 showed that the CEZ supports an abundant mammal community despite nearly three decades of chronic radiation exposures.
Motion-activated cameras have revealed that Przewalski's horses are using abandoned structures, particularly barns, as shelters. These structures can serve as important focal points for research and management to obtain key demographic information such as age, sex ratio, population size, and genetic structure.
The horses were observed in abandoned structures with various other animals like brown hare, red deer, moose, wild boar, red fox, raccoon dogs, Eurasian lynx, wolves, as well as a number of birds and bats. The study of Przewalski's horses in the region can provide insights into the population's progress since its introduction to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
However, field research on Przewalski's horses has been disrupted by wildfires since 2020 and the Russian occupation of the zone in early 2022. Expanded work on the Ukrainian side of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has been intermittent since 2022 due to the Russo-Ukrainian War. In June 2025, authorities reported a landmine-related Przewalski's horse fatality.
Despite these challenges, Ukrainian researchers have proposed new geospatial monitoring frameworks for the study of Przewalski's horses in the Ukrainian part of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The study of these horses could offer valuable insights into the resilience of wildlife in contaminated environments.
David Grossman, a staff writer for PopularMechanics.com, has previously written for The Verge, Rolling Stone, The New Republic, and several other publications. He is based out of Brooklyn. His latest work delves into the fascinating world of Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
The CEZ's animal population is one of the least-expected results of the 1986 nuclear disaster that forced over 116,000 people to evacuate permanently. The resilience of these animals, particularly the Przewalski's horses, serves as a testament to nature's ability to adapt and thrive even in the most challenging of environments.
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