ORF Universum Nature Preps New Radioactive Wolves Doc

ORF Universum Nature is gearing up to release Radioactive Wolves—Chernobyl’s Forbidden Wilderness, a new and updated edition of the documentary Radioactive Wolves.

The original documentary was the first to thoroughly explore the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, showing how wolves and other species had reclaimed the abandoned landscape. The updated version revisits the area 40 years after the nuclear disaster and focuses on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected both the ecosystem and decades of scientific research.

In Radioactive Wolves, wolf experts Christoph and Barbara Promberger investigated how wolves were surviving in the radioactive landscape. By capturing and radio collaring animals, they were able to study population size, behavior, migration and health. The film also documented the surprising return of species such as wild horses, bison and eagles.

Radioactive Wolves—Chernobyl’s Forbidden Wilderness builds on these foundations. A film team traveled to Ukraine in winter 2026 under challenging conditions to capture the damage to research sites, the interruption of ecological studies and the impact on scientists such as Maryna Shkwyrja, who was forced to abandon over a decade of wolf research. The documentary also references ongoing international studies, including promising but currently halted U.S.-based research into possible radiation-related cancer resistance in wolves.

The new documentary is scheduled for release at the beginning of April 2026. ORF-Enterprise is distributing the film worldwide.