An international team with participation from the Doñana Biological Station-CSIC observed changes in the behavior of wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone caused by the Russian invasion of 2022.
It is the first global study to analyze the effects of war on biodiversity before, during, and after the conflict, and not just after its conclusion.
Methodology and context
- A network of 31 camera traps was installed in January 2021 to monitor the Eurasian lynx.
- Between February and April 2022, Russian forces occupied the area, causing bombings, fires, and military movements.
- After the withdrawal, scientists retrieved the data with support from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Main results
The analysis of eleven species showed diverse responses:
- Deer and foxes reduced their nocturnal activity during periods of high military intensity.
- Roe deer decreased their sightings during times of extreme violence.
- Hares increased their presence during thermal anomalies associated with forest fires.
- Wild boars and raccoon dogs avoided human settlements, while foxes and lynxes approached them more, likely in search of resources.
Researchers conclude that animals shifted from perceiving humans as just another disturbance to considering them a lethal threat, with potential ecological and evolutionary consequences.
Chernobyl as a natural laboratory
The exclusion zone, abandoned after the 1986 nuclear accident, has become a key space for studying ecological restoration processes.
Species such as the brown bear and the Eurasian lynx have recolonized the area, and populations of elk, deer, wild boars, and wolves have increased.
Long-term implications
The study warns that prolonged military activity could:
- Alter habitat use.
- Modify species behavior.
- Change population dynamics.
- Cause variations in community structure.
In a context of militarization and global environmental crises, researchers call for specific monitoring and protection strategies for ecosystems affected by armed conflicts.
Call to scientific action
Nuria Selva, a researcher at EBD-CSIC, emphasized the urgency of strengthening funding and support for projects in rewilding areas subjected to military activity.
Initiatives like SAFE, which offer scholarships to scientists at risk, should continue to ensure research in contexts of violence and persecution.
The war in Ukraine impacts not only human populations but also the wildlife of Chernobyl, which adapts its behavior in the face of military threats.
This pioneering study demonstrates that armed conflicts generate immediate and potentially lasting effects on ecosystems, reinforcing the need to integrate the environmental dimension into international peace and security agendas.
