a large rusted iron gate swings open and we run the central focus of Chernobyl.

The place is still occupied. Firefighters patrol the buffer zone around the nuclear power plant to control fires the desert now very overgrown.

But this small collection of dilapidated buildings to another use. It was a bit Wildlife Sanctuary.

"This sanctuary was created for animals that have health problems, the animals were rescued from the exclusive zone," said Igor Chizhevsky, a biologist at the Chernobyl Ecocentre state-run SSSI.

Igor friend, a qualified veterinarian named Alexander (Sasha) Borovsky, created the sanctuary 10 years ago.

Sacha is to set the Hulk is the man, but very softly spoken way. Igor turned do a short tour of this small collection of well-managed cases.

"When Sasha came to Chernobyl, he founded a sanctuary, because he loves the wild animals," says Igor.

Today, the sanctuary is home to a wolf, fox, raccoon and wild boar.

"Every animal has a different story," says Igor.

The wolf has come a year ago, when one of the Chernobyl forest patrols found the wounded lion.

"He had been bitten by a dog and one wounded," said Igor. "These men brought the wolf and the wolf Sasha grew up here and now has a good health."

The sanctuary is not open to everyone, but for a small fee, Sasha will agree a short trip. The money, he says, helps buy food for the animals.

"All these animals came from the exclusion zone," says Igor.

"Not surprisingly, the zone has a rich fauna species live here .."


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