Animal Takeover
Wednesday May 6, 2009 at 10 pm PT on CBC Newsworld
What would happen if the world were suddenly without people - if humans vanished off the face of the earth? How would nature react - and how swiftly?
On the edge of Europe, the deserted village of Chernobyl reveals the surprising answer after an unplanned experiment.
Abandoned and run-down shipdocks.
Chernobyl was abandoned by people after the worst nuclear disaster in history (April 26, 1986). A level 7 meltdown resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following a massive explosion that destroyed the reactor. More than 20 years later, Chernobyl has been taken over by a remarkable collection of wildlife and descendents of pets that were left in the city when its residents fled the nuclear fallout. Unexpectedly in the aftermath of this disaster, Chernobyl has become a sanctuary for plants, birds, and animals, including some species thought to be on the brink of extinction.
A bear takes over an abandoned house.
The adventures of a likeable cast of non-human characters give viewers a rare glimpse into a world where wild animals face challenges in an environment totally outside their experience, and once-domesticated pets have learned how to fend for themselves.
Directed by Peter Hayden, Off the Fence and Blue Paw Artists for Bayerischer Rundfunk, Arte, Animal Planet International and Discovery HD Theatre.
