Dogs living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have turned blue, according to the organisation caring for them.
Dogs of Chernobyl, which looks after hundreds of strays near the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster , posted a video on Instagram showing several dogs with blue coats.
1986 nuclear disaster
AI Generated
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, now Ukraine, and is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. The event involved a flawed reactor design that was operated by inadequately trained personnel, resulting in a steam explosion and fires that released massive quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Western USSR and Europe.
“Blue dogs found in Chornobyl. A very unique experience we have to discuss,” the group wrote. “We are on the ground catching dogs for sterilisation and came across three that were completely blue. We are not sure exactly what is going on.”
What happened to the dogs in Chernobyl
The organisation said locals reported the colour change happened within a week.
“The town people were asking us why the dogs were blue,” the organisation added. “We do not know the reason and are attempting to catch them so we can find out what is happening. Most likely they’re getting into some sort of chemical.”
The group said the dogs appear “very active and healthy” but efforts to catch them have been unsuccessful so far.
Dogs of Chernobyl, part of the non-profit Clean Futures Fund, has cared for around 700 dogs living in the 18-square-mile exclusion zone since 2017. The dogs are descendants of pets left behind during the evacuation following the nuclear meltdown.
The organisation provides food, sterilisation and medical care for the animals.
Mystery as Chernobyl dogs turn blue within a week near nuclear site
The video prompted responses from users online. One person commented: “Someone needs to rescue them.” However, the organisation replied: “They cannot leave the Chernobyl exclusion zone.”
Other users suggested the dogs’ fur may have been stained by contamination or chemical exposure.
Scientists have studied animals in Chernobyl for their ability to adapt to conditions in the zone, with some showing resistance to radiation at a genetic level. The cause of the blue colouring remains unknown.
