Caring for Chernobyl's abandoned dogs
April 24, 2021 4:17 AM Subscribe
Back in 2017, Johnny Wallflower posted a story about the radioactive puppies of Chernobyl. Now, there's an update of sorts. "The descendants of pets abandoned by those fleeing the Chernobyl disaster are now striking up a curious relationship with humans charged with guarding the contaminated area." By Chris Baraniuk writing for BBC Future.
They're good dogs, Boris.
posted by merriment at 7:59 AM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by merriment at 7:59 AM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
Another participant spoke of one dog that was even more difficult to approach. It refuses to be touched at all. "You should just give her a pan [of food] and go. She waits until you leave and then she eats," the guard explained.
This is what I love about humans. We feed dogs--we want to feed dogs--even when the dogs don't want to be near us.
posted by meese at 8:44 AM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
This is what I love about humans. We feed dogs--we want to feed dogs--even when the dogs don't want to be near us.
posted by meese at 8:44 AM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
Radioactive Puppies of Chernobyl just has to be a band name, no?
posted by blue shadows at 2:17 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by blue shadows at 2:17 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
I went to Chernobyl on a trip a couple of years ago, there were loads of dogs everywhere. They looked fairly healthy and happy but didn’t approach too much. Guide said don’t touch them, their coats can have radioactive material on.
We stayed overnight in the zone and had heard that dogs were noisy at night so took foam earplugs. They weren’t quite enough to block out the constant barking that continued pretty much all night.
Saw foxes and weird looking horses as well. Was a really interesting trip, I’d recommend it.
posted by ElasticParrot at 3:00 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
We stayed overnight in the zone and had heard that dogs were noisy at night so took foam earplugs. They weren’t quite enough to block out the constant barking that continued pretty much all night.
Saw foxes and weird looking horses as well. Was a really interesting trip, I’d recommend it.
posted by ElasticParrot at 3:00 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
"weird looking horses"
This very limited description is letting my imagination run wild.
posted by meese at 3:03 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
This very limited description is letting my imagination run wild.
posted by meese at 3:03 PM on April 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
"weird looking horses"
On visiting much longer ago, circa 1998, and not even in the zone itself but maybe 60mi away, I saw roads lined with trees that looked robust and healthy for about fifteen feet then, as one, emaciated, spindly, and as if blown by an invisible wind for another several sad feet. But still growing. I wish I'd taken a photo but the image in my mind is indelible. Like a tiny blackened tree atop a healthy one, all angling away from harm or toward a promise of health.
So like that, but horses?
posted by abulafa at 4:30 PM on April 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
On visiting much longer ago, circa 1998, and not even in the zone itself but maybe 60mi away, I saw roads lined with trees that looked robust and healthy for about fifteen feet then, as one, emaciated, spindly, and as if blown by an invisible wind for another several sad feet. But still growing. I wish I'd taken a photo but the image in my mind is indelible. Like a tiny blackened tree atop a healthy one, all angling away from harm or toward a promise of health.
So like that, but horses?
posted by abulafa at 4:30 PM on April 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
Apparently they are a particular breed, Przewalski’s horses - 30 of them were introduced as part of an effort to preserve the species. There are 150 now. I stand by the ‘weird looking’ description, they resemble something painted on a cave 30,000 years ago.
The giant fish in the water channel that used to cool the power station were more unnerving. Guide said they aren’t mutants, just haven’t been fished and so left to grow and grow. Also the lovely juicy looking apples that had fallen from the trees and left to rot.
Other highlights were lunch in the power station worker’s canteen, and the visit to the astonishingly massive Duga Radar station. Entire trip was fascinating.
posted by ElasticParrot at 4:34 PM on April 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
The giant fish in the water channel that used to cool the power station were more unnerving. Guide said they aren’t mutants, just haven’t been fished and so left to grow and grow. Also the lovely juicy looking apples that had fallen from the trees and left to rot.
Other highlights were lunch in the power station worker’s canteen, and the visit to the astonishingly massive Duga Radar station. Entire trip was fascinating.
posted by ElasticParrot at 4:34 PM on April 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by deadaluspark at 7:44 AM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]