Three dogs living within the Chernobyl zone were recently spotted with blue fur, sparking a storm of speculation on social media, with many suggesting the color change was due to radioactive radiation.
Since 2017, the Dogs of Chernobyl program has cared for about 700 dogs living within the 18-square-mile exclusion zone, providing them with food and medical care each year. The animals are descendants of pets abandoned when residents evacuated after the 1986 nuclear disaster, one of the worst nuclear accidents in history.
In October, the organization released photos of three dogs with blue fur, leaving program volunteers confused. According to Timothy A. Mousseau of Dogs of Chernobyl, the unusual color was not due to radiation, but from a collapsed portable toilet within the area.
"The blue color was simply an indication of the dog's unclean behavior! As every dog owner knows, most dogs eat everything, including leftovers," Mousseau said in a Facebook post.
While some social media users were convinced that the reason was radiation, others suggested that the color came from harmless chemicals and could be washed off.
Although the color was disconcerting to the volunteers, the dogs appeared very active and healthy.
Chernobyl dogs and their resistance to radiation
Scientists have been studying the animals living near the area since the disaster in 1986. After one of the nuclear power plant's reactors exploded, people were evacuated and the area became known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). The absence of humans has allowed the animals to thrive and survive in an environment with an average radiation level of 11.28 millirems – six times the level allowed for people working there.
A 2024 study found that dogs have developed extraordinary abilities: they are immune to radiation, heavy metals, and pollution. Genetic analyses conducted by Columbia University on 116 semi-wild dogs revealed two genetically distinct populations that are adapted to withstand long-term exposure to the toxic environment of Chernobyl.
According to Norman J. Kleiman, an environmental health researcher, dogs have developed inherited genetic mutations that enable them to survive and adapt to extreme conditions. These mutations were discovered in 52 genes linked to exposure to nuclear plant pollution.
So, the temporary color change in the three blue dogs is not related to radioactivity, but to their dirty habits, while the Chernobyl dog population has developed an extraordinary resistance to environmental hazards. This makes the Dogs of Chernobyl a unique example of animal survival and adaptation in one of the harshest environments on the planet. /GazetaExpress/
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