MEET THE DOGS OF CHERNOBYL

Meet the dogs of Chernobyl – the abandoned pets that formed their own canine community


Hundreds of stray dogs have learned to survive in the woods around the exclusion zone – mainly descendants of those left behind after the nuclear disaster, when residents were banned from taking their beloved pets to safety

We are in the woods behind the Chernobyl plant when the dog runs at us. It is thin, with brindle fur and yellow eyes. Igor, our guide, makes a lunge and clamps his hands over its snout. They wrestle in the snow and icy water shakes from the trees. The dog’s eyes flash as Igor grabs a stick and throws it into the trees. Distracted, the animal chases it and our little group is free to move. But the dog reappears and drops the stick at Igor’s foot. He throws it again. The dog brings it back. I almost laugh with relief.

Igor, who, it turns out, is very familiar with the dog, throws a few snowballs, which it tries to catch and chew. “This is Tarzan,” says Igor. “He’s a stray who lives in the exclusion zone. His mum was killed by a wolf, so the guides look out for him, chuck a few sticks, play a few games. He’s only a baby, really …”
 
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Data: 05.02.2018
Fonte: www.theguardian.com

THE FORGOTTEN DOGS OF CHERNOBYL, DESCENDED FROM ABANDONED PETS AFTER THE NUCLEAR DISASTER

The forgotten dogs of Chernobyl, descended from abandoned pets after the nuclear disaster

More than 120,000 people from hundreds of towns and villages were forced to abruptly flee their homes in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

The exclusion zone stretched more than 30 kilometres from the power plant, where an explosion in reactor four on April 26 sparked one of the worst catastrophes in modern human history.

Terrified residents left behind almost everything, including beloved family pets.

Now, in the radioactive ghost towns within the no-go area in Ukraine’s north, especially Pripyat, some 900 stray dogs roam among crumbling buildings, the descendants of those abandoned canine family members.

Participants of the Dogs of Chernobyl initiative capture the canines, study their radiation exposure and vaccinate them against diseases, before tagging and releasing them.

Some are also being outfitted with special collars equipped with radiation sensors and GPS receivers in order to map radiation levels across the zone.

Experts say it’s unclear how the potent radiation impacts animals in the exclusion zone, but wildlife populations have prospered in the three decades since the disaster.

Scientists are divided on the true health of animals, with some studies examining abnormally high rates of cataract blindness in wolves and conditions like albinism in birds.

“(Scientists) agree that radiation is bad for people and bad for animals ... the debate is over how bad and whether it has caused populations to decline,” National Geographic wrote.

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Data: 23.08.2017

Fonte: www.news.com.au

DOGS OF CHERNOBYL: LOCAL VET HEADED ON UNIQUE MISSION

Dogs of Chernobyl: Local vet headed on unique mission

 

Most people think of the ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as a wasteland, devoid of life. 

In reality, there are hundreds of dogs living there, the descents of animals left behind decades ago when the area was evacuated.

Now, a local vet is heading to the area to help control the dog population and get the animals the care they need.

When the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded back in April 1986, 120,000 people living within 20 miles of the facility in the Ukraine were given just a few minutes to grab some personal belongings and get out.

  

Residents were told not to pack anything and to leave their pets with the expectation that they could return for them, but they never came back.

The Soviet military sent soldiers into the exclusion zone to shoot the abandoned animals, but some survived; and multiplied, to the point where, now - 30 years later,  there are stray dogs all around the power plant.

"There's probably a thousand dogs there now living in adverse conditions," said local veterinarian Terry Paik, noting that there are a lot of dogs suffering from starvation, predators and freezing cold winters.

  

Though no longer a working nuclear power plant, Chernobyl still has thousands of employees - many of whom have been feeding the dogs.  But with rabies and other diseases, it's a dangerous situation and the dog population is spiraling out of control.

That's where El Cajon vet Terry Paik comes in.

  

Later this month, Paik will be part of a team of vets from all over the world that will travel to Chernobyl to help the dogs.  Their group is called the Clean Futures Fund. 

"Our mission is to go and spay and neuter the dogs," Paik said. "Vaccinate [them] for rabies." 

Dr. Paik says the team will be there for a month with plans to spay and neuter 40 to 50 dogs a day. 

"The goal is to eliminate unwanted litters, obviously, and hopefully cut down the population to be a manageable population that can be cared for by the caretakers," Paik said. 

Dr. Paik has done this before - setting up spay and neuter clinics in foreign countries.; and his work doesn't end there. His team also teaches local vets modern techniques so they can continue the program after his team leaves. He plans to do the same at Chernobyl - with one big goal.

"Saving lives, making the quality of life better for as many dogs as we can," said Paik.

Data: 11.07.2017
Fonte: hwww.cbs8.com