The Abandoned Pets Of Fukushima, A Year Later
Nearly a year after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that crippled Japan’s nuclear reactors, abandoned dogs and cats still roam the ghost towns within the evacuation zones. Volunteers from the United Kennel Club Of Japan, braving radiation poisoning, are doing their best to try and save these animals.
An empty shopping street is seen in Namie town, inside the exclusion zone of a 20-km (12-mile) radius around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture January 28, 2012. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami on March 11, 2011 triggered the world’s worst nuclear accident in 25 years and forced residents around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to flee, leaving behind in many cases their household belongings or pets. The triple disaster is still forcing more than 150,000 people from Fukushima prefecture to take refuge, nearly half of them from the no-go zone.
Members of United Kennel Club Japan (UKC Japan) care for pets which are rescued from inside the exclusion zone around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, at the group’s pet shelter in Samukawa town, Kanagawa prefecture January 25, 2012. Dogs and cats that were abandoned in the Fukushima exclusion zone after last year’s nuclear crisis have had to survive high radiation and a lack of food, and they are now struggling with the region’s freezing winter weather.
Dogs which were rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
Cats which were rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
A dog rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
Cats rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
UKC Japan Representative Director Yasunori Hoso speaks in front of a destroyed house in Namie town.
A dog which was rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
A cat which was rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
Dogs rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
The abandoned Okuma childcare center is seen in the exclusion zone.
Cars and a ship destroyed by a tsunami are seen at Ukedo district in Namie town.
The ashes of cats who died after being rescued from the Fukushima exclusion zone, placed in urns at the UKC Japan’s pet shelter.
A dog rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
A cat which was rescued by UKC Japan from inside the exclusion zone.
Special Reactions
Your Reaction?
React with an animated GIF!
READY. SET. REACT!
GET STARTED