Grey wolves from the radioactive Chernobyl nuclear disaster zone are now roaming out into the rest of the world, raising the chances they'll spread mutant genes.
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The wolves began to take over in 2016, with researchers at the time estimating at least 300 wolves lived in the exclusion zone.
A new study published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research has found that the 30km-wide zone has essentially become a wildlife preserve due to the lack of human interference.
In the early hours of April 26, 1986, a botched test at the nuclear plant in then-Soviet Ukraine triggered a meltdown that spewed deadly clouds of atomic material into the atmosphere, killing and poisoning residents and making the area uninhabitable for humans.
Grey wolves have since thrived, with scientists following their behaviour patterns with transmitters fitted to the canines.
Study lead author and wildlife ecologist Michael Byrne says the wolves' population within the zone is up to seven times greater than in surrounding reserves.
Now, for the first time, "we have tracked a young wolf that has definitely left the exclusion zone", Byrne said.
In just three weeks, the animal ended up roaming more than 300km away.
While Mr Byrne says no wolves are sporting a radioactive glow, the question could be raised as to whether they carry any mutant genes that could be spread when they leave the exclusion zone.
He said it's not something he'd worry about, but it would make for an interesting area of future research.
Newshub.
