Despite the danger from radioactive fallout inside the Fukushima Evacuation Zone, animals from wild boars to feral cats are living their best life free from human interference.
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1 of 19 2 of 19Wild boar photographed by UGA cameras in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.UGA 3 of 19A badger wanders into the camera view. UGA 4 of 19A Raccoon Dog — a relative to the fox that’s indigenous to East Asia.UGA 5 of 19A Wild Hare.UGA 6 of 19The Japanese Serow. This goat-antelope mammal is recognized as a national symbol of Japan.UGA 7 of 19Macaque Monkeys.UGA 8 of 19A mother boar and her babies. UGA 9 of 19A fox hunts under the cover of night. UGA 10 of 19A calendar stuck in time remains on March 2011 in Okuma, Fukushima, June 2016. Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 11 of 19An empty supermarket full of merchandise dating back to 2011, reminders of the 150,000 people who were evacuated. June 2016.
Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 12 of 1955-year-old Naoto Matsumura is called the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because he returned only months after the nuclear accident to care for the animals left behind — despite the dangers of radioactivity. Naoto Matsumura/Facebook 13 of 19A cat sits alone in a house within the exclusion zone, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. April 6, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 14 of 19Cattle wandered freely on a farm, situated within the exclusion zone. February 15, 2012. Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 15 of 19An abandoned dog is seen within the exclusion zone, April 12, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 16 of 19Farmland belonging to local man Yukio Yamamoto is heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout, but the farmer cannot bring himself to euthanize his entire Wagyu cattle herd. February 2012.Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 17 of 19Members of an animal control hunters group collect radioactive wild boar they culled in order to make the area safe for the humans’ return. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 18 of 19Hunters collect the body of raccoon that made it into one of their traps. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
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From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone View Gallery
A recent study by the University of Georgia (UGA) shows that wildlife inside Fukushima’s exclusion zone is thriving — especially within areas devoid of humans. Using remote cameras, researchers took more than 267,000 photos of animals living inside the radioactive area. Wild boars, Japanese hares, Japanese macaques, pheasants, foxes, and raccoon dogs are shown to be surprisingly plentiful in the area.
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In The Wake Of Nuclear Disaster, Animals Are Thriving In The Red Forest Of Chernobyl
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1 of 19 2 of 19Wild boar photographed by UGA cameras in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.UGA 3 of 19A badger wanders into the camera view. UGA 4 of 19A Raccoon Dog — a relative to the fox that’s indigenous to East Asia.UGA 5 of 19A Wild Hare.UGA 6 of 19The Japanese Serow. This goat-antelope mammal is recognized as a national symbol of Japan.UGA 7 of 19Macaque Monkeys.UGA 8 of 19A mother boar and her babies. UGA 9 of 19A fox hunts under the cover of night. UGA 10 of 19A calendar stuck in time remains on March 2011 in Okuma, Fukushima, June 2016. Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 11 of 19An empty supermarket full of merchandise dating back to 2011, reminders of the 150,000 people who were evacuated. June 2016.
Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 12 of 1955-year-old Naoto Matsumura is called the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because he returned only months after the nuclear accident to care for the animals left behind — despite the dangers of radioactivity. Naoto Matsumura/Facebook 13 of 19A cat sits alone in a house within the exclusion zone, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. April 6, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 14 of 19Cattle wandered freely on a farm, situated within the exclusion zone. February 15, 2012. Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 15 of 19An abandoned dog is seen within the exclusion zone, April 12, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 16 of 19Farmland belonging to local man Yukio Yamamoto is heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout, but the farmer cannot bring himself to euthanize his entire Wagyu cattle herd. February 2012.Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 17 of 19Members of an animal control hunters group collect radioactive wild boar they culled in order to make the area safe for the humans’ return. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 18 of 19Hunters collect the body of raccoon that made it into one of their traps. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
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In The Wake Of Nuclear Disaster, Animals Are Thriving In The Red Forest Of Chernobyl
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Stretches 1,600 Miles And Won’t Be Safe For Humans For Another 20,000 Years
Introducing Atomik Vodka: The First Liquor Made From Crops Grown In The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
1 of 19 2 of 19Wild boar photographed by UGA cameras in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.UGA 3 of 19A badger wanders into the camera view. UGA 4 of 19A Raccoon Dog — a relative to the fox that’s indigenous to East Asia.UGA 5 of 19A Wild Hare.UGA 6 of 19The Japanese Serow. This goat-antelope mammal is recognized as a national symbol of Japan.UGA 7 of 19Macaque Monkeys.UGA 8 of 19A mother boar and her babies. UGA 9 of 19A fox hunts under the cover of night. UGA 10 of 19A calendar stuck in time remains on March 2011 in Okuma, Fukushima, June 2016. Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 11 of 19An empty supermarket full of merchandise dating back to 2011, reminders of the 150,000 people who were evacuated. June 2016.
Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 12 of 1955-year-old Naoto Matsumura is called the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because he returned only months after the nuclear accident to care for the animals left behind — despite the dangers of radioactivity. Naoto Matsumura/Facebook 13 of 19A cat sits alone in a house within the exclusion zone, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. April 6, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 14 of 19Cattle wandered freely on a farm, situated within the exclusion zone. February 15, 2012. Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 15 of 19An abandoned dog is seen within the exclusion zone, April 12, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 16 of 19Farmland belonging to local man Yukio Yamamoto is heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout, but the farmer cannot bring himself to euthanize his entire Wagyu cattle herd. February 2012.Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 17 of 19Members of an animal control hunters group collect radioactive wild boar they culled in order to make the area safe for the humans’ return. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 18 of 19Hunters collect the body of raccoon that made it into one of their traps. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
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In The Wake Of Nuclear Disaster, Animals Are Thriving In The Red Forest Of Chernobyl
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Stretches 1,600 Miles And Won’t Be Safe For Humans For Another 20,000 Years
Introducing Atomik Vodka: The First Liquor Made From Crops Grown In The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
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1 of 19 2 of 19Wild boar photographed by UGA cameras in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.UGA 3 of 19A badger wanders into the camera view. UGA 4 of 19A Raccoon Dog — a relative to the fox that’s indigenous to East Asia.UGA 5 of 19A Wild Hare.UGA 6 of 19The Japanese Serow. This goat-antelope mammal is recognized as a national symbol of Japan.UGA 7 of 19Macaque Monkeys.UGA 8 of 19A mother boar and her babies. UGA 9 of 19A fox hunts under the cover of night. UGA 10 of 19A calendar stuck in time remains on March 2011 in Okuma, Fukushima, June 2016. Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 11 of 19An empty supermarket full of merchandise dating back to 2011, reminders of the 150,000 people who were evacuated. June 2016.
Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images 12 of 1955-year-old Naoto Matsumura is called the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because he returned only months after the nuclear accident to care for the animals left behind — despite the dangers of radioactivity. Naoto Matsumura/Facebook 13 of 19A cat sits alone in a house within the exclusion zone, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. April 6, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 14 of 19Cattle wandered freely on a farm, situated within the exclusion zone. February 15, 2012. Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 15 of 19An abandoned dog is seen within the exclusion zone, April 12, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images 16 of 19Farmland belonging to local man Yukio Yamamoto is heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout, but the farmer cannot bring himself to euthanize his entire Wagyu cattle herd. February 2012.Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images 17 of 19Members of an animal control hunters group collect radioactive wild boar they culled in order to make the area safe for the humans’ return. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 18 of 19Hunters collect the body of raccoon that made it into one of their traps. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 19
2 of 19Wild boar photographed by UGA cameras in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.UGA
3 of 19A badger wanders into the camera view. UGA
4 of 19A Raccoon Dog — a relative to the fox that’s indigenous to East Asia.UGA
5 of 19A Wild Hare.UGA
6 of 19The Japanese Serow. This goat-antelope mammal is recognized as a national symbol of Japan.UGA
7 of 19Macaque Monkeys.UGA
8 of 19A mother boar and her babies. UGA
9 of 19A fox hunts under the cover of night. UGA
10 of 19A calendar stuck in time remains on March 2011 in Okuma, Fukushima, June 2016. Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
11 of 19An empty supermarket full of merchandise dating back to 2011, reminders of the 150,000 people who were evacuated. June 2016.
Keow Wee Loong / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
12 of 1955-year-old Naoto Matsumura is called the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’ because he returned only months after the nuclear accident to care for the animals left behind — despite the dangers of radioactivity. Naoto Matsumura/Facebook
13 of 19A cat sits alone in a house within the exclusion zone, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) away from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. April 6, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images
14 of 19Cattle wandered freely on a farm, situated within the exclusion zone. February 15, 2012. Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images
15 of 19An abandoned dog is seen within the exclusion zone, April 12, 2011. Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images
16 of 19Farmland belonging to local man Yukio Yamamoto is heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout, but the farmer cannot bring himself to euthanize his entire Wagyu cattle herd. February 2012.Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Getty Images
17 of 19Members of an animal control hunters group collect radioactive wild boar they culled in order to make the area safe for the humans’ return. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images
18 of 19Hunters collect the body of raccoon that made it into one of their traps. March 30, 2017. Richard Atrero de Guzman/NurPhoto via Getty Images
19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
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From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone View Gallery
From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone View Gallery
From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone View Gallery
From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone View Gallery
From Dogs To Radioactive Boars, Animals Are Thriving Inside’s Fukushima’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone
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“Numerous species of wildlife are now abundant throughout the Fukushima Evacuation Zone, despite the presence of radiological contamination,” notes UGA wildlife biologist James Beasley.
Many fear the effects of nuclear disasters on human life, and so people are promptly evacuated. However, wild animals — even a large amount of pets — are often left to fend for themselves. Luckily, it seems the wild Fukushima animals that survived the disaster rebounded. But what is the cost to the species’ overall health?
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident
On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake (magnitude 9.0) and subsequent tsunami rocked Ōkuma, Fukushima Prefecture. The tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three reactors, melting all three cores in three days. This released large amounts of radioactive material into the environment. Hundreds of employees spent many weeks focused on restoring heat removal from the reactors.
The incident was ultimately categorized as a level 7 nuclear disaster; the highest level on the International Nuclear Event Scale — and the same level as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster — with evacuations displacing over 100,000 people. The original evacuation zone spanned a 12-mile radius but was expanded to 80 square miles beyond that in the months following the disaster.
Animals In The Aftermath
Toshifumi Taniuchi/Getty Images
Life for abandoned animals and native wildlife in the exclusion zone was, of course, very dangerous and after just a few months, scientists began studying the effects of the radiation on the animals living in Fukushima’s exclusion zone.
Nearly all studies into the effects of radiation on living beings have a common hypothesis: that chronic, low-dose exposure to ionizing radiation results in genetic damage. This damage includes increased mutation rates in both reproductive and non-reproductive cells. Only time would tell how the animals left behind would fare in such an environment.
Fukushima’s animals did have one savior. The 55-year-old Naoto Matsumura, who was evacuated from the area with the others but returned soon thereafter to locate his pets. He found many other abandoned animals that were hungry and needed help. Despite the radiation risk (and the fact that it’s illegal for him to be there), he stayed to care for them, and never left.
Matsumura says, “They also told me that I wouldn’t get sick for 30 or 40 years. I’ll most likely be dead by then anyway, so I couldn’t care less.”
The Re-wilding Of The Fukushima Exclusion Zone
Wildlife captured on video inside the Fukushima exclusion zone.
Now, nearly a decade after the nuclear accident, the wildlife populations appear to be thriving. Animals are most abundant in areas still devoid of humans, with more than 20 species captured in the UGA’s camera study.
Wildlife captured on video inside the Fukushima exclusion zone.
Particular species that often find themselves in conflict with humans, especially Fukushima’s wild boar, were most often photographed in human-evacuated areas. Without the threat of humankind, wildlife is flourishing.
In the years since the nuclear accident, Japan’s wild boar seems to have taken over abandoned farmland — even moving into abandoned homes. The government hired boar hunters to cull the population prior to re-opening parts of the original exclusion zone in 2017.
This phenomenon has happened before. Life inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine became an accidental wildlife preserve after humans left following the nuclear disaster there in April 1986.
Toshifumi Taniuchi/Getty ImagesAn abandoned dog traverses a damaged street on April 15, 2011 in Naraha, Fukushima, Japan.
In addition, the study “found no evidence of population‐level impacts in mid‐ to large‐sized mammals or gallinaceous birds.” However, none of this makes any claims to the overall health of the animals, only their quantities.
Clearly, radioactivity is known to cause cell damage. A monkey species in Fukushima known as the Japanese macaques show effects associated with radiation exposure, according to wildlife veterinarian Dr. Shin-ichi Hayama. He’s studied the macaques’ population since 2008.
He found post-fallout monkeys weigh less for their height, have smaller bodies overall, and their heads (and brains) measure smaller still. But they are out there surviving — and reproducing — as are the other species found by the UGA’s study.
What should we take from all this? That humans are more detrimental to animals’ survival than nuclear radiation? That wildlife simply repopulate their generations quickly in contained areas, even if they’re unhealthy? How many more generations will it take for more serious mutations to arise, if they do at all? Only time can reveal the true cost of these nuclear accidents. But for now, life finds a way.
Next, see what Chernobyl looks like now, decades after the nuclear accident. Then find out when humans will be allowed back into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. (Hint: it’s a really long time.)
