Horses Thrive in Chernobyl's Radioactive Wasteland

0:00On April 20, in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a radioactive wasteland bigger than Luxembourg, Przowalski's horses are living wild and free. These stocky, sand-colored beasts from Mongolia, introduced back in 1998, graze amid the fallout from the 1986 nuclear disaster that displaced tens of thousands. Nature's bounce back hard without humans around. Wolves, brown bears, links, moose, deer, even packs of dogs have reclaimed the land spanning Ukraine and Belarus. The zone looks like Europe centuries ago, with trees overtaking old buildings and roads turning to forest. Scientists call it a small miracle. Lead researcher Denise Vishnefski says the horses adapted quick, forming family groups, using abandoned barons for shelter from weather and bugs. Despite radiation, no mast-eye-offs, though some critters show subtle changes like darker frog skin or bird cataracts. But wars messing with the vibe now. Russia's 2022 invasion brought troops, trenches,

1:03fires from drones and minefields through the zone. Winters hit hard too, downing trees and animals, while fires kick up radioactive dust. Still, for conservation folks, it's a factory reset on a scarred landscape-proof life finds a way, even in the glow. From around the world, powered by AI, this is Global News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.