Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, Nature reserve in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine
The reserve is a protected landscape within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone covering more than 2,000 square kilometers and home to nearly 300 vertebrate species and about 1,200 plant varieties. The terrain includes forests, wetlands, and open grasslands, each forming different habitats for specialized animal groups.
The territory was officially protected on April 26, 2016, exactly 30 years after the 1986 nuclear accident. Creating the reserve allowed radioactively contaminated lands to be preserved for ongoing scientific research and monitoring.
Research teams from around the world work on site to monitor animal populations and understand how radiation has affected nature. Their studies show how wild ecosystems can grow back when human activity stops.
The area is accessible only with permission and under supervision, as it lies within the restricted zone. Visitors should check with local authorities beforehand about what special arrangements and documentation are needed for entry.
The wolf population here is about seven times higher than in surrounding regions because human activity has ceased. This makes the area a rare natural laboratory for observing predator behavior under unusual conditions.
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