Are Chernobyl wolves spreading mutant genes?

Fears of contamination as young wolf traced
230 miles from home in radiation zone

One-Minute Read Hinnah Mian

Chernobyl, near the border between Ukraine and
Belarus, was declared officially off-limits to humans amid
concerns over radiation following the meltdown at the then-Soviet nuclear power
plant on 26 April 1986.

The area has been reopened for short-term visits by tourists in
recent years, but visitors are told not to touch anything within
the blast area and are screened for radioactive particles before
they leave.

The lack of human activity in the 18.6-mile-wide exclusion zone
has allowed animals to thrive there, with hundreds of wolves now
roaming free, reports Sky News. 

Scientists have used GPS collars to track 13 fully grown
grey wolves and one young male in order to see how far they stray
from the exclusion zone.

Although the adults remained in the nearby area, the youngest
was traced up to 229 miles (369km) away, according to the
researchers, who have published their findings in the European Journal of Wildlife Research.

This “raises questions about the potential spread of
radiation-induced genetic mutations to populations in
uncontaminated areas”, says the research paper.

“Instead of being an ecological black hole, the Chernobyl
exclusion zone might actually act as a source of wildlife to help
other populations in the region,” wildlife ecologist Michael
Byrne, who led the study, told the Live Science news website. “And these
findings might not just apply to wolves – it’s reasonable to assume
similar things are happening with other animals as well.”

However, Byrne noted that there is no evidence to prove
that genetic mutations are being spread, adding: “No wolves
there were glowing – they all have four legs, two eyes and one
tail.”