Dogs of Chernobyl** caretakers discovered several dogs with blue fur in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a first at the disaster site. The organization, which has cared for approximately 700 dogs in the 18-square-mile zone since 2017, suspects chemical contamination and is attempting to capture the animals. A 2024 study found the dogs developed genetic mutations with 400 outlier loci and 52 genes associated with radiation adaptation, led by Columbia University's Norman J. Kleima