Even among the reserve's highly educated scientists and engineers, there seems to be a strong affinity with the contaminated land, a reluctance to believe that a place so beautiful could be so poisonous. Stocking it with elk and bison seems in accordance with objectives less scientific than emotional. Even the idea of establishing a nature reserve on the Chernobyl heartlands could itself be considered a denial of reality. Who knows, perhaps one day it may be possible for people to live in this place again. In the meantime, it can't just be abandoned.
Someone has to watch over it.