→Flora and fauna: I have introduced several missing references from peer-reviewed scientific literature concerning the demographic effects of radioactive contamination in Chernobyl on animal populations.
There have been individual eyewitness reports of other animal mutations. The cloud of heavily polluted dust left the [[Red Forest]] (''Рудий ліс'')—a stand of highly-irradiated [[pine]] wood near the plant which was subsequently bulldozed. A reduction in the density and the abundance of animals in highly radioactively contaminated areas has been demonstrated for several [[taxa]], including birds,<ref>
A reduction in the density and the abundance of animals in highly radioactively contaminated areas has been demonstrated for several [[taxa]], including birds,<ref>
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</ref>
The area also houses herds of European [[wisent]] (native to the area) and [[Przewalski's Horse]]s (foreign to the area, as [[tarpan]] was the native wild horse) released there after the accident. Some accounts refer to the reappearance of extremely rare native [[lynx]], and there are videos of [[brown bear]]s and their cubs, an animal not seen in the area for more than a century. Special [[game warden]] units are organized to protect and control them. No scientific study has been conducted on the population dynamics of these species.
The rivers and lakes of the zone pose a significant threat of spreading polluted [[silt]] during spring floods. They are systematically secured by [[Dike (construction)|dykes]].
