Radioactive Wild Boars in German Forests

[Sasha]

Radioactive Boar on the Rise in Germany
Der Spiegel
07/30/2010 - It’s been 25 years since Chernobyl fallout contaminated flora and fauna in Europe, but German hunting officials are still dealing with rising numbers of radioactive wild boars. But why?

This burgeoning boar population munches on radiation-absorbing truffles and mushrooms, and because of an overall increase in wild boars, the number of radioactive boars has gone up as well. The German Atomic Energy Law requires Berlin to reimburse hunters who bag radioactive boars. In 2009, the government paid out approximately €425,000 — or $555,000 — for polluted piggies. According to Der Spiegel, the contaminated boar population has been the most problematic in southern Germany.

[Sasha]

Wildfires spark Chernobyl fallout fears
Mail Online
12th August 2010 - Wildfires just a mile from Russian secret nuclear town of Sarov... but officials play down threat of radiation from Chernobyl.

Fires prompt calls for transparency in Russia
Swissinfo.ch
Aug 12, 2010 - Russian wildfires have spread to areas contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster, raising concerns that Russia should be more open in its handling of the crisis.