Question

Although the forest is growing quickly around Chernobyl, and some of the wildlife is thriving, studies show that biodiversity around Chernobyl has been reduced by over 50% since the accident. Why?

Answer 1

The ionizing radiation affects the DNA of the wild animals (wildlife), similarly as it has influence on the DNA of humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on Saturday 26 April 1986, at the No. 4 nuclear reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR. (Reference: Burgherr, Peter; Hirschberg, Stefan (2008). "A Comparative Analysis of Accident Risks in Fossil, Hydro, and Nuclear Energy Chains". Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal. 14 (5): 947–973. Direct Reference From officials: chernobyl (International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria))