Ants Trapped in a Soviet Nuclear Bunker Survived for Years

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Ants were found surviving in a dismantled Soviet nuclear bunker in Poland without a queen or usual resources.
The ant population was maintained by accidental falls from a colony above through a rusted ventilation pipe.
Researchers discovered the ants survived by cannibalizing their dead nest mates, as no other food sources were available.
A wooden boardwalk was installed in 2016, allowing trapped ants to escape, ending the need for cannibalism.
The study highlights the extreme adaptability and survival strategies of wood ants in unfavorable conditions.

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