The last wild equine in the world, Przewalski’s horse had completely disappeared from its natural habitat in Asia in the middle of the 20th century. Reintroduced in 1998 in Chernobyl as part of a scientific experiment, the development of this species is a success. Explanations with Germán Orizaola, researcher of the Ramon y Cajal program at the University of Oviedo, in Spain.
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl power plant (Ukraine) was the scene of the worst nuclear disaster of the 20th century.and century. Due to radioactive contamination, scientists claimed that the area would remain uninhabitable for more than 20,000 years. The success of the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horse in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, however, thwarts the most pessimistic predictions.
The oldest population of horses living in the wild, Przewalski’s horse, originating from the Asian steppes, represents in this respect a group whose protection is fundamental. Species that had completely disappeared from its natural habitat in Asia in the middle of the XXand century, it has been successfully reintroduced since 1998 in Chernobyl. A look back at the biodiversity success represented by the presence of this species and the obstacles it encounters today in Chernobyl, with Germán Orizaola, researcher in the Ramon y Cajal program at the University of Oviedo.
Germán Orizaola, how do you explain the presence of Przewalski’s horse in Chernobyl?
The horses were introduced in 1998, from a reserve in southern Ukraine (Askania Nova) where a breeding nucleus was, and still is, kept in semi-captivity. In this reserve, for example, lived the last specimen captured in the wild, a female recovered in Mongolia in 1946. In Chernobyl, 31 horses were initially released, many of which died due to their lack of adaptation to nature.
How many Przewalski horses are currently in the area?
The latest census of 2018 places the horse population at around 150 in the Ukrainian part of the area. Considering the demographic trend of recent years and horses living in Belarus, it is possible that the total population of the area is closer to 200 horses.
To what extent are they affected by the radioactivity present on the site?
Not much has been studied so far but we had a project to look at these aspects which is now stopped because of the war. In principle, it is a population which, living in a totally natural way, has multiplied by five in 25 years. This could indicate that she is unaffected by radiation.
Tourism, which is also gradually developing there. Does it have an impact on wild horses?
This influence has not been studied in detail. Many of the herds live far from areas used for tourism. In any case, the access of people, photographers and drones to these herds should be controlled due to the disturbances they could cause.
Can we expect the introduction of other threatened species in the future, some articles mention, for example, the European bison? Is this a viable project in your opinion?
The European bison was introduced to Belarus and from there some specimens reached the Ukrainian part of the exclusion zone. A reintroduction project was recently developed with the European beaver.
In principle, the idea is that the area continues to evolve naturally, without new introductions or reintroductions.
Does the proliferation of horses on the site in the early 2000s open up the possibility of a new human occupation of Chernobyl?
The horses would indicate, along with the radiation measurements, that much of the exclusion zone now maintains radiation levels that should not pose a problem for human occupancy.
The question is whether such an occupation is economically and logistically feasible. In my opinion, the area should be preserved as a place of commemoration of the consequences of the accident and as an area that combines well-regulated tourist use with wildlife conservation and research.
Paradoxically, can we say that Chernobyl is gradually becoming a “green zone”, a kind of protected area?
In Chernobyl, the Ukrainian part and the Belarusian part are already declared nature reserves. Indeed, they have now become one of the largest nature reserves in Europe, due to their size (4,500 km2) and the great diversity of the fauna that lives there.
There are bears, lynxes, wolves, beavers, moose, more than 200 species of birds, 30 of which are considered endangered in Ukraine.
Has the Russian occupation of Chernobyl in the context of the war in Ukraine (between February and March) changed the situation for horses?
We have not yet been able to study the wildlife situation after the Russian invasion of the area. This is an essential task to be carried out as soon as conditions are safe. We do not expect a major impact on wildlife, which we hope will have taken refuge in areas farthest from human presence during these weeks.
Horses are one of the priority species to study given their low population, their overall threat level and the fact that some herds live near roads and may have been affected by the presence of troops in the area. For now, we cannot even exclude the possibility that some specimens have been hunted. The resumption of the study of the Chernobyl fauna, in collaboration with our Ukrainian colleagues, is a priority.