Chernobyl (1 Viewer)

I keep hearing about how wildlife is thriving in Chernobyl. But I guess there's no way to actually go and see this wildlife, is there?

Maybe check here
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/...les/how-can-i-visit-chernobyl-and-is-it-safe/

"And yet, fast forward 30 years, and the heart of the panic has become a hotspot for men and women with cameras and selfie-sticks. More than 10,000 tourists now explore the disaster site every year, snapping photos at the stricken power plant, and wandering the empty streets of Pripyat – which was evacuated on April 27 1986 (far too late in terms of the health of its citizens), and has lain abandoned ever since."

and

"Intrigued? It is not difficult – if you wish to place caution to one side – to book a guided visit. Chornobyl Tour (0038 44 221 1986; chernobyl-tour.com) offers a potted one-day foray to both the power plant and Pripyat (from US$89/£62 a head) – as well as detailed five-day itineraries (from US$519/£361 per person) for those who want to view the site and its sad tale in depth. Welcome To Chernobyl (00421 902 654 876; chernobylwel.com) specialises in two-day trips which stay overnight (from £240). All tours leave from Kiev."

or

http://chernobyltime.com/en/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItN7OubDx2gIVxYbVCh1RBwX2EAAYAyAAEgKaevD_BwE

or

https://www.chernobylwel.com/

or

http://www.chernobyl-tour.com/engli...MItN7OubDx2gIVxYbVCh1RBwX2EAAYASAAEgK7UPD_BwE

All the same animals in similar or better numbers can be seen in other areas of Ukraine and Belarus, without the hassle of permits and radiation. Please remember that species like lynx and wolf are very shy anywhere, and seeing them requires time and searching.

Wildlife in Chernobyl

Arbu said:

I keep hearing about how wildlife is thriving in Chernobyl. But I guess there's no way to actually go and see this wildlife, is there?

Click to expand...

Yes, you are absolutely right that wildlife is thriving in Chernobyl. There are so many TV shows, documentaries and wildlife programs telling about this and showing great films about the abandoned forests and locations that are left untouched. Fortunately, you are mistaken that there is no way to see those places with your own eyes. There are many credible travel agencies which focus exclusively on organizing tours to the exclusion zone. They ensure the utmost safety and provide interesting information about the places they offer to visit. Check it out! Good luck and waiting for your response

Since last post a friend of mine (non-birder) visited Chernobyl on an organized tour. He made a nice slide presentation for us. I asked him about wildlife, and he saw possibly one fox.

Organized tours to Chernobyl visit various abandoned towns, military installations and some old people who elected to live there. The interest is mostly in post-Soviet architecture and giant military installations and general curiosity. They meet quite surprising number of people inside the zone: wardens and locals. These tours are safe, because roads and habitations have been well mapped for radiation by now. Tours also carry Geiger counters.

In short: Chernobyl is very bad for wildlife viewing, despite whatever documentaries show. Visitable areas are empty of wildlife (probably because of disturbance by locals). One cannot wander freely on your own.

If you want to see European big animals like Wisent or carnivores, go to Bieszczady in Poland, Romania, Slovenia or Finland.