Forty years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, scientists are discovering that wildlife in the exclusion zone has changed in unexpected ways. Pablo Burraco, an evolutionary biologist at Spain's Doñana Biological Station, first noticed something unusual during a 2016 field trip: tree frogs living near the ruined reactor were darker in colour than those further away.
Burraco and his team have since sampled over 250 tree frogs from various locations inside and outside the 37-mile-wide exclusion zone. In a 2022 study, they reported that frogs within the zone were, on average, darker. Their hypothesis is that higher melanin levels may offer protection against radiation, though Burraco stresses this remains unproven.
Other researchers have documented a range of anomalies, including twisted trees, tumour-ridden swallows, and a black fungus thriving inside the reactor building. However, not all scientists agree on the causes. Biologist Timothy Mousseau of the University of South Carolina criticises the frog study for insufficient sampling, arguing that melanisation does not correlate with current radiation levels. Burraco counters that his team sampled diverse areas with similar habitats but differing radiological histories.
Radiobiologist Carmel Mothersill of McMaster University defends the study's methodology, noting the authors' cautious conclusions. Meanwhile, ongoing research continues to explore how wildlife adapts—or fails to adapt—to chronic radiation exposure in this unique environment.
