The Earth Strikes Back: Five Places Reclaimed by Nature

Published September 2, 2015
Updated September 23, 2018

The Forgotten Pets of Fukushima

Reclaimed By Nature Japan

Image Source: www.world104.com

In 2011, a gargantuan tsunami disabled the power supply of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The earthquake that caused the tsunami hit 9.0 on the Richter scale, which indicates “near or at total destruction” and permanent topographical transformations.

Three of the nuclear reactors were shut down immediately, but no one was prepared for the towering tsunami that arrived nearly an hour later. The emergency diesel generators sustaining the coolant system’s power were disabled and the plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown.

The government enacted a rushed evacuation for 12.5 miles around the plant. 134,000 people were forced to evacuate on the first day, with 354,000 to follow four days later. In the hysteria, evacuees packed up what they could and left, but sadly, most were unable to take their pets.

Fukushima Cats

It’s estimated that nearly 10,000 animals were left behind. Over the past few years, most of these abandoned animals have had to fend for themselves. In harsh winters, cats have had to fight off crows and even wild boars for a scrap of food.

As the animals continue to breed in this dire situation, the domesticated die out and the feral survive. Leashed animals were found dead, barn animals starved to death, and so began the survival of the fittest in a land reclaimed by nature.

Only one man, Naoto Matsumura, is brave enough to enter the radioactive zone to care for these otherwise helpless creatures. Without a protective suit, Matsumura disregards the warnings of radiation exposure and risks his life for the abandoned animals of Fukushima.

Reclaimed By Nature Pig

Image Source: publicdelivery.org

Fukushima Dogs

Image Source: blazepress.com


Next, check out six of the most remote places on planet Earth.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.