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Crossbreeding between domestic animals and wild boars exposes how evacuated areas can change wildlife after a nuclear disaster
A population of hybrid pigs emerged in the evacuated areas of Fukushima, Japan, after the 2011 nuclear disaster. The case attracted scientific attention due to the unusual rate of animal multiplication.
The phenomenon began when domestic pigs escaped from abandoned farms and interbred with wild boars that already occupied the region without human presence.
The accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant was caused by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, followed by a tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan in 2011.
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At that time, about 164,000 people left their homes to escape radiation contamination. Entire cities were left practically empty.
Genetic study reveals the factor that accelerated reproduction
Researchers from the universities of Fukushima and Hirosaki analyzed the animals’ DNA and identified a decisive point for population growth.
According to Professor Shingo Kaneko, the main factor lies in the maternal lineage of the hybrids formed after the nuclear disaster.
When the mother is a domestic sow, the offspring tend to inherit a faster reproductive cycle, common in farm-raised animals.
Wild boars generally reproduce only once a year. Domestic sows, on the other hand, can produce offspring in continuous cycles throughout the year.
Domestic DNA decreases, but the effect remains
Scientists also observed an unexpected finding during the genetic analysis of the hybrid pigs found in the evacuated cities.
The animals carried less nuclear DNA from domestic pigs than expected by the researchers involved in the study.
The result suggests that part of the genetic heritage of farm animals is being gradually diluted. Even so, the maternal influence on reproduction remained relevant.
In practice, Fukushima underwent a rare genetic renewal, with population increase and rapid changes in the animals’ characteristics.
Abandoned cities facilitated the advance of animals
The abandoned environment of Fukushima directly contributed to the expansion of wild boars and their hybrid descendants.
Without residents, barriers, and constant management, the animals began to occupy streets, residences, and agricultural areas left behind.
In previous years, teams of hunters were mobilized to contain the presence of these animals in cities within the exclusion zone.
Feral pigs are among the most destructive invasive species on the planet. They affect crops, livestock, and sensitive ecosystems.
Discovery may help in environmental management
The results published in the Journal of Forest Research help environmental authorities predict risks of population explosions in areas without human control.
The study also allows for the development of more effective strategies for wildlife management in regions affected by abandonment, hybrid crossings, and accelerated expansion.
According to Shingo Kaneko, understanding the influence of the maternal lineage of domestic pigs allows for better estimation of when this growth might become problematic.
Fukushima shows how a nuclear disaster can also profoundly alter the dynamics of animals, empty cities, and entire ecosystems.
What should weigh more in this case: the rapid control of hybrid animals or a more careful environmental strategy to better understand this phenomenon?
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