Chernobyl's Wild Horses Thrive in Abandoned Nuclear Zone

The endangered Przewalski's horses have turned the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone into an impromptu sanctuary.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has become a haven for wildlife, including the endangered Przewalski's horse. Between 1998 and 2004, scientists introduced 36 of these wild horses into the zone, and the population has since expanded into Belarus. Motion-activated cameras have found that the horses routinely use abandoned structures, like barns, as shelters, and share these spaces with other wildlife like brown hares, red deer, and wolves.

Why it matters

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, once a site of tragedy, has become an unexpected sanctuary for endangered species like the Przewalski's horse. This highlights the resilience of nature and the ability of wildlife to adapt to even the most challenging environments. The continued study of these horses and other animals in the zone can provide valuable insights into conservation efforts and the long-term effects of radiation on ecosystems.

The details

Przewalski's horses, often described as the world's last wild horses, were introduced into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone between 1998 and 2004. The population has since expanded into the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve in Belarus. Motion-activated cameras have found that the horses routinely use abandoned structures, such as barns, as shelters, and share these spaces with a variety of other wildlife, including brown hares, red deer, moose, wild boar, red foxes, raccoon dogs, Eurasian lynx, and wolves.

  • Between 1998 and 2004, scientists began introducing the endangered Przewalski's horse into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
  • In 2015, a long-term study showed that the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone supports an abundant mammal community after nearly three decades of chronic radiation exposure.

The players

Przewalski's Horses

The Przewalski's horse is the world's last truly wild equine species, once roaming Europe but now mostly limited to Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan after successful reintroductions.

Peter Schlichting

A scientist from Arizona State University who led the team that introduced the Przewalski's horses into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

James Beasley

An associate professor at the University of Georgia who studied the Przewalski's horses using motion-activated cameras in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

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What they’re saying

“When the size of a population is reduced, it has lost a lot of natural variation. The goal of conservation programs is to maintain as much diversity as possible and prevent inbreeding, ensuring a population can withstand changes in the environment and survive long term.”

— Peter Schlichting, Scientist, Arizona State University (Press Statement)

“Our results indicate Przewalski's horses routinely use abandoned structures in the CEZ. As a result, these structures can serve as important focal points for research and management to obtain key demographic information such as age, sex ratio, population size, and genetic structure.”

— James Beasley, Associate Professor, University of Georgia (Press Statement)

What’s next

Ukrainian researchers have proposed new geospatial monitoring frameworks to expand the study of the Przewalski's horses on the Ukrainian side of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which has been intermittent since 2022 due to wildfires and the Russian occupation.

The takeaway

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, once a site of tragedy, has become an unexpected sanctuary for endangered species like the Przewalski's horse. This highlights the resilience of nature and the ability of wildlife to adapt to even the most challenging environments, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts and the long-term effects of radiation on ecosystems.