The worst nuclear incident has now become a nature preserve

(Guardian Mag, 2021)

35 years ago, a nuclear disaster occurred in Chernobyl that had resulted in 4,000 deaths, with some scientists predicting a death toll between 30,000 to 60,000 deaths. Whatever the case, the incident that happened in 1986 is unforgettable, and has made its place in history as the worst nuclear disaster thus far. Yet, with such an event occuring in this area, a transformation is happening (Guardian Mag, 2021).

During the evacuation of the area, an exclusion zone of 2,800 square kilometers was created, becoming one of the most radioactive places in the world. 400 hectares of trees were killed and any water nearby was contaminated; it was a disaster for the wildlife. However, over the last 3 decades, the biodiversity of this zone has rapidly increased (TechsSlash, 2021).

Rare species such as the lynx and the European bison have been seen within this area. However, they are not the only rare species in this area; there are a total of over approximately sixty rare species within this zone. It has gone to the point where rare species such as the Przewalski’s horse are being released into this zone as part of conservation efforts (Ferrer, 2021).

With the resurgence of wildlife within the Chernobyl exclusion zone, the question of whether or not humans can return to the zone has been raised. The answer is, quite simply, yes, but not for a while. Ukraine authorities have stated that the area will be inhabitable within 320 years, though the director of Chernobyl, Ihor Gramotkin, has estimated it will take more than 20,000 years (Ferrer, 2021).