Furry mystery! The 'blue dogs' of Chernobyl

In a bizarre phenomenon that's left scientists and animal lovers alike scratching their heads, stray dogs near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have been spotted sporting bright blue fur. The Dogs of Chernobyl, a group caring for these canine critters, recently shared images of the blue-coated beauties on Instagram, and they're going viral.

The dogs, descendants of pets abandoned during the 1986 nuclear disaster, seem to be healthy and active despite their unusual hue.

"The town people were asking us why the dogs were blue?"

According to the organisation, the team came across three dogs with strikingly blue coats while working in the exclusion zone. "We are on the ground catching dogs for sterilisation and we came across three dogs that were completely blue," the group wrote. "We do not know the reason and we are attempting to catch them so we can find out what is happening. Most likely they're getting into some sort of chemical."

While experts are still investigating the cause, they're speculating that chemical exposure or industrial waste might be behind the blue fur. The sudden change in fur colour, observed within just a week, has led researchers to suspect possible exposure to unidentified chemical compounds. To get to the bottom of it, scientists are now collecting fur, skin and blood samples for testing.

Despite the uncertainty, the Dogs of Chernobyl's efforts to care for these strays are undeniably heartwarming. With over 700 dogs in their care, the organisation continues to provide vital support and medical assistance to these resilient animals.

Netizens react:

“This is required to be investigated by the concerned authorities,” a comment read.

Another user wrote, “Another example of humans effecting nature the wrong way.”