Animals Are Thriving in Chornobyl's Human-Free Zone, Study Finds

Camera traps across northern Ukraine recorded 13 wild species, with the highest diversity and occupancy in the Chornobyl exclusion zone and the linked Drevlianskyi reserve.

The findings suggest that low human presence and connected protected habitat can help wildlife rebound even in a heavily radioactive landscape.

Large mammals such as Przewalski's horses, moose, and Eurasian lynx were among the species observed, reinforcing the conservation value of the area.