When the tsunami of March 11 2011 had reached the nuclear power plant in the area of Fukushima in Japan all inhabitants in a range of twenty kilometers had to leave their homes. They were forced to leave their belongings but also their animals behind. To this day it is unsure whether or not they will ever return. 

Photography museum Huis Marseille presents a pop up exhibition (Oktober 3-14) of  Yasusuke Ota who photographed animals in Fukushima left behind by their owners. Wild animals usually flee when there is danger, but domesticated animals are dependent on their human caretakers. 

Several volunteers have started to frequent the area since late March with water and food for the animals. Not knowing what to expect, they were shocked by the sights of animals who could barely stand on their legs, got caught in the swamp after fleeing their barns and were chained to their homes, dying of hunger anxiously awaiting the return of their owners.

Photographer and animal lover Yasusuke Ota (1958) started documenting the horrific scenes to show the world what they already forgot about. When asked why he and the others risk their own lifes to take care of the forgotton animals, he states: ‘I can’t betray such animals that don’t know how to be doubtful of their owners, as they woleheartedly put trust in them. With this in mind I documented these scenes from March 2011 to March 2012 […] This exhibition is to show that this tragedy was not caused by the earthquake or tsunami. It’s the nuclear power plant.’

The ostrich on the photo above had escaped from an ostrich farm and is fed with cat food by the volunteers. A little ironic detail: the ostriches were introduced in the area as the mascottes of the Daiichi nuclear power plant because they do not require much food, just as nuclear energy only needs a little uranium..

The pop-up exhition can be visited from October 4 to 14 in Atelier 408 aan de Herengracht 408, a gallery close to Huis Marseille. Tickets for Huis Marseille are also valid for this exhibition. If you only want to visit Atelier 408 a donation to the foundation ‘The Netherlands help Japan’ will do. Several of the photos are also available for purchase, profits go to the same foundation.

Images courtesy of Huis Marseille and of the artist.