Chernobyl: nature, 24 years after

[Brian Ellis]

Several scientific studies have been made of the effects of radiation at 1,000 to 10,000 times permitted (several times natural) levels on the flora and fauna (all types) in the "forbidden zone" (FZ). A documentary (in French) was broadcast at http://www.arte.tv/fr/3183232.html (will not stay available more than a few days).

Do the rabbits have 4 ears and green fur? No! They seem perfectly normal rabbits and they breed -er- like rabbits, as do all the other animals. Is there a scientific explanation for the normality of life in the FZ? Apparently, yes. When the catastrophe occurred, much wildlife was killed off. Then it started migrating back from all directions and the genetic diversity of the sources was such that natural selection removed the more radiation-sensitive bits of the DNA and they were replaced by bits from tougher colonies. Result: perfectly healthy, caesium and strontium radiation-resistant animals!

One experiment involved the introduction of some older wild horses with that unpronounceable name, thinking they would never survive. There is now a very active breeding colony of them!

Most of the visible effects are confined to distorted leaves on a few trees.

This report was astonishing: the FZ is effectively a 35 km radius nature reserve with an enormous healthy biodiversity you would never dream of.

[paulw]

Wonder if this doco will see the lite of day outside France?? Too controversial for the antinuke brigade??

[Wulfman]

without having seen the documentation (slow internet in africa) - did they account for the fact that they were looking at wild animals, which are unlikely to die from cancer (or old age, in genera), given predation & selective pressure?

back in the day, humans died at age 30 and usually didn't die of cancer as well...

mfg
w

[Evildead666]

Direct link to vid.

http://videos.arte.tv/fr/videos/tchernobyl_une_histoire_naturelle-3224506.html

edit : I'll watch it later when i'm at home....cheers for the link Brian

[Evildead666]

It was actually pretty interesting.
Unfortunately it won't be for anyone who doesn't understand German or French.

The images aren't that explanatory.
Some are, most not.

[dZeus]

Several scientific studies have been made of the effects of radiation at 1,000 to 10,000 times permitted (several times natural) levels on the flora and fauna (all types) in the "forbidden zone" (FZ). A documentary (in French) was broadcast at http://www.arte.tv/fr/3183232.html (will not stay available more than a few days).

Do the rabbits have 4 ears and green fur? No! They seem perfectly normal rabbits and they breed -er- like rabbits, as do all the other animals. Is there a scientific explanation for the normality of life in the FZ? Apparently, yes. When the catastrophe occurred, much wildlife was killed off. Then it started migrating back from all directions and the genetic diversity of the sources was such that natural selection removed the more radiation-sensitive bits of the DNA and they were replaced by bits from tougher colonies. Result: perfectly healthy, caesium and strontium radiation-resistant animals!

One experiment involved the introduction of some older wild horses with that unpronounceable name, thinking they would never survive. There is now a very active breeding colony of them!

Most of the visible effects are confined to distorted leaves on a few trees.

This report was astonishing: the FZ is effectively a 35 km radius nature reserve with an enormous healthy biodiversity you would never dream of.

On my end the video gets stuck on 'connexion' (loading/buffering the video). I suppose the site either is overloaded or my end is not granted access to this content.

[paulw]

On my end the video gets stuck on 'connexion' (loading/buffering the video). I suppose the site either is overloaded or my end is not granted access to this content.

Same here so I gave up..