Watch ORF Universum Documentaries

1996
1 Season

ORF Universum Documentaries is a fascinating documentary series produced by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) that explores the natural world in all its glory, from the depths of the ocean to the top of the highest mountains, and everything in between. Each episode of the series delves deep into the mysteries of nature, uncovering the most incredible and awe-inspiring stories of animal behavior, science, and the environment.

The show is made up of stand-alone episodes, each with a unique theme, ranging from the behavior of predators, the lives of primates, the wonders of the deep sea, and much more. The series utilizes cutting-edge camera technology and techniques to provide audiences with stunning visuals of nature, in both its most beautiful and most dangerous forms.

The series also covers a variety of environmental issues and topics, from climate change to the impact of human civilization on the natural world. The filmmakers and scientists involved in creating the documentaries provide expert insight into the issues, enabling viewers to gain a better understanding of how they can play a part in protecting the natural environment.

One of the unique aspects of ORF Universum Documentaries is that it isn't just a nature show about animals and habitats, but it also features fascinating stories about the people who work to protect the environment and the researchers who seek to understand it. From scientists studying the behavior of primates in the wild to conservationists working to save endangered species from extinction, the series gives viewers a personal look at the people behind the science and conservation efforts.

The show isn't just educational, but it's also entertaining. It features a mix of colorful characters, heartwarming stories, and nail-biting action. The documentary episodes are often narrated by experienced journalists, adding to the excitement and drama of the stories.

The show has been praised for its stunning cinematography and in-depth storytelling, as well as for its efforts to raise awareness of environmental issues. The series has been produced by ORF since 1979, making it one of the longest-running nature documentary series in the world.

ORF Universum Documentaries has won numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Awards, which are considered the Oscars of nature filmmaking. The series has been recognized for its innovative use of technology, stunning visuals, and compelling storytelling.

Overall, ORF Universum Documentaries is a must-watch for anyone who loves nature, science, or the environment. With its incredible visuals, inspiring stories, and insightful commentary, the show offers a unique and unforgettable look at the world we live in. Whether you're a seasoned nature enthusiast or just discovering the wonders of the natural world, this show is sure to inspire and inform.

ORF Universum Documentaries is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (123 episodes). The series first aired on January 1, 1996.

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Seasons

121. Extreme: Light and Dark

December 13, 2012

Humans prefer moderation; neither too hot nor too cold, neither too light nor too dark. Earth doesn't cater to our preferences. Our planet offers an abundance of extreme conditions, and people everywhere have had to learn to adapt to their surroundings.

120. Ships of the Desert

October 4, 2012

Camels are masters of the art of survival. They can go for up to ten months without a drop of water, then drink 200 liters in only 15 minutes, while their humps store fat to keep hunger at bay. But there's much more to them than that.

119. Hyena: Queen of the Masai Mara

October 9, 2012

The unusual portrait of a much maligned hunter, the hyena - a dramatic story built around the competition for prey and territory and the fight for survival. The setting is Kenya's legendary Masai Mara.

118. Keepers of the Ark: Life for Animals

April 16, 2013

A baby bat sleeps peacefully, hanging from the washing line in the living room. A muscular young cheetah quits his enclosure - or he will kill the female who has come to mate with him.

116. Magic Mountains: Land of Champions

January 29, 2013

"Sustainable development" could have been invented by this place. Schladmingers welcomed big-city money to their region to develop tourism and peak alpine sports, but never sold out completely.

115. Magic Mountains: Land of the Chamois

January 22, 2013

Sheer rock walls and deep ravines crying out to be climbed, cycling trails in the forest and some of the swiftest and blackest ski runs; peaks and pines eye their reflections in shimmering lakes, bordered by moss, lichen and flower-studded slopes.

114. Danube: Europe's Amazon, Part 2

June 21, 2012

The second part of the documentarie offers the further south, between the Carpathian mountain range in Romania and the Serbian Ore mountains, the river passes through the socalled Iron Gate.

113. Danube: Europe's Amazon, Part 1

June 14, 2012

Romantic river banks and unspoilt nature - these landscapes flank the Danube River. This comprehensive cinematic portrait of Europe's secondlongest river presents scenes of breathtaking beauty along the banks of the Danube.

112. Wild Nairobi

June 10, 2012

With a population of around 3 million, Nairobi is one of the largest cities in Africa. However the metropolis is surrounded by wilderness which extends into the city itself.

111. Termites Natures Big Builders

November 21, 2011

They cannot tolerate sunlight; some of them are even blind. However they are one of the worlds most ingenious builders: Termites.

110. Little Monsters: Hide and Cheat

May 2, 2010

This world premiere 3D documentary presents some of the animal kingdoms strangest survival strategies. The most startling behavior patterns earn"t found among the classic big animals such as lions or polar bears, but among natures smaller creatures.

109. Limits of Light

May 18, 2011

Following on from the multiple award winning "Limits of Perception" and "Time Limits", this is the third and final part of the trilogy of films that explores the limits of our everyday perceptions and beyond.

108. The Inside Story

September 13, 2011

A cascade of water pouring from glaciers and a lake in the high mountains, a water fall tumbling from high up into the valley.

107. Sudan - the Nubian Caravans

April 25, 2001

Sudan, the biggest country in Africa. In the south the Nile with its feeder rivers dominates an almost impenetrable swamp landscape.

106. Typhoon Island Taiwan

August 21, 2004

The spectacular island of Taiwan has long been buffeted by violent elemental forces, and a recent hurricane of human development has rocked it to its core.

106. Typhoon Island - Taiwan

August 20, 2004

The spectacular island of Taiwan has long been buffeted by violent elemental forces, and a recent hurricane of human development has rocked it to its core.

105. Sahara - the English Patient's Desert

July 20, 2002

The Sahara, one of the world's most extreme, hostile regions, is the paragon of a desert.

104. O2 - a Molecule That Made Our World

March 11, 2008

Using latest CGI combined with live-action reconstructions, this film follows the journey of a molecule of oxygen, an adventure that takes place over a span of thousands of millions of years.

103. Tales from the Vienna Woods

October 30, 1999

Vienna is the world's only metropolis with a large, continuous forest area in its immediate vicinity - the Vienna Woods, an area blessed with an unexpected wealth of animal and plant life.

102. Link With the Lynx

June 18, 2010

With large tufted ears, a short tail and a trusting look, one could almost believe that lynxes are just big cats.

101. Mystery of the Fairy Circles

April 15, 2011

When it rains substantially in the Namib, a thick carpet of grass covers the sand and stony desert.

100. Return of the Bald Ibis

June 12, 2007

Four years ago a group of zoologists ventured out to indulge into a truly crazy adventure.

99. Iceland: Realm of the Gods

May 27, 1999

The oldest path of mankind is one that combines legend and reality. In Iceland more so than anywhere else, natural forces have formed both the landscape and the fantasy of its people.

98. Yucatan: In the Kingdom of the Jaguar God

November 18, 2005

The Central American peninsula of Yucatan is famous for its fascinating wildlife and exotic flora and fauna.

97. Arlberg: the Hidden Paradise

September 13, 2010

Snow masses pile up in abundance on the deep snow-covered slopes. The wind has created bizarre snowdrifts on the steep mountain ridges, and further below, the Swiss pine carry the weight of this sparkling splendor.

96. Alpine Meltdown

July 11, 2011

The climate is changing. According to predictions of climatologists, within 100 years it will be around 5 to 8 degrees C warmer in the alpine region than today.

95. Silverado

March 19, 2010

Two places and one mountain in the Austrian province of Tyrol changed the world.

94. Secrets of the Flooded Forest: Danube National Park

August 1, 2010

After beginning in Vienna, the Danube riverbank forests extend to the gates of Bratislava, linking the two capitals like a green ribbon, forming a unique wildlife habitat in the heart of Europe.

93. Secrets of the Adriatic

July 14, 2003

For a long time, the Adriatic Sea used to be Central Europe's only link to the orient.

92. Tiger and Monk

May 17, 2007

Wat Pa Luangta Bua is a monastery of meditation, situated far away from any civilization, about 200 kilometers west of Bangkok, and here, silcence, peace and harmony reign.

91. Vienna's Forests

September 24, 2005

Viennas forests make a visual impact on the citys scenery being a source of life and sanctuary at the same time.

90. Wild Balkans

October 13, 2009

Wolves hunt their prey in the valleys between high-ranging dunes, bears and lynxes wander through dense primeval forest, and the big lakes are a magnet for hundreds of bird species.

89. Puszta - Land of Salt and Sand

August 24, 2002

Less than an hour's drive south of Hungary's capital Budapest, Central Europe's last and only wandering sand dunes surprise the traveller.

88. Nature Tech, Part 3

May 4, 2006

Nature has to be efficient in the way it processes information and uses energy so when scientists began to look at nature with biomimetic eyes, it's not surprising that they started to see entirely new visions for our future.

87. Nature Tech, Part 2

April 28, 2006

Nature invented a whole range of hi-tec materials long before we invented ceramics and plastics. And not only are they often better, but nature has also invented ingenious ways of building with them.

86. Nature Tech, Part 1

April 21, 2006

Most animals, and even a few plants, move. They swim, walk, run or fly in a wide range of ways, and in this programme we look at how designers of planes, cars and robots have found inspiration in nature.

85. Time Limits

June 14, 2007

We perceive time in terms of seconds - the length of a heartbeat.

84. Pielach: The Enchanted Valley

August 17, 2006

The Pielach, with a length of 67.5 km, is a little known river at the foothills of the Alps. Though biologically speaking, flowing through hidden natural treasures, it is one of Austria's most valuable running waters.

83. Vienna's Water

May 20, 2010

The city of Vienna is world famous for its position on the River Danube.

82. Mountains in The Sun

November 4, 2008

The landscape of southern Lower Austria is characterised by the last undulations of the Alps.

81. Limits of Perception

May 16, 2001

More than 800 years ago, work started on a magnificent cathedral in Vienna.

80. The Four Alps

July 2, 2007

For as long as there has been human memory we have been fascinated by mountains.

79. High Tatras: A Wilderness Frozen in Time

December 5, 2007

The High Tatras are considered a National Park in Slovakia.

78. The Four Alps

July 3, 2007

For as long as there has been human memory we have been fascinated by mountains.

77. Hallstatt: Living Between Rock and Lake

May 17, 2004

The Austrian region of Hallstatt-Dachstein features breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear lakes and a deep historic relevance.

77. The Isle

August 6, 2003

Vienna's Danube Island, a river island artificially created some 20 years ago, has become a recreational retreat for tens of thousands of city dwellers.

76. Land of Crystal Waters

February 15, 2008

In the very heart of Europe, precisely in the center of Austria, lies one of the most marvellous spots of the Alps: a woodland, water and mountain wilderness that shuns no comparison.

75. Teaming Up With Wolves: Part 3

August 7, 2010

What is the difference between the domestic dog and the wolf if both of them have been raised under the same conditions?

74. In Bed With Wolves: Part 2

July 28, 2010

What is the difference between the domestic dog and the wolf if both of them have been raised under the same conditions?

73. Teaming up With Wolves: Part 1

June 15, 2010

What is the difference between the domestic dog and the wolf if both of them have been raised under the same conditions? Researchers Friederike Range, Zsofia Viranyi and Professor Kurt Kotrschal have taken up the task of raising a pack of wolves by hand.

72. Bohemian Forest - Wilderness in the Heart of Europe

February 20, 2000

The Bohemian Forest is a region in the heart of Europe that is as typical of Europe as possible.

70. Night of the Salamander

January 1, 2001

To enter the exotic unfamiliar world of salamanders, it's often just a short trip down the road.

69. Land of a Thousand Vineyards

October 8, 2009

Italy, California and South Africa are not the only places famous for their wines. Right in the heart of Europe, Austria can also look back over a past suffused with music and wine, both of which remain inseparably linked to this day.

68. The Living Graveyard

April 9, 2005

Anyone who dares to visit this sinister place at night needs strong nerves. The world of the dead shows great signs of life: martens lurk behind gravestones, bats hunt in the dim moonlight, and wild cats scuffle between grave candles.

67. Afghanistan: The Lost Mines of the Pharaohs

March 24, 2002

Afghanistan isone of the most remote and dangerous countries in the world. Yet for the last 20 years, through the turmoil of Russian invasion, retaliation, civil war and religious jihad, an American has traveled the country in search of precious stones.

66. The Valley at the Border

February 15, 2000

The Thaya River flows quietly through the deep incision of the valley, that in winter, frequently sees only a few minutes of the warming rays from the low-lying sun.

65. Blue Danube, Black Sea

June 8, 1998

The delta of the river Danube is Europe's best kept secret. The place is vast; the 5,640 square km of lakes, channels and reeds are home to a huge array of animals.

64. The Iron Forest

March 26, 1998

The youngest of Austria's national parks is also the country's biggest continuous forest area. Ten million trees make the labyrinthine, fissured karst formations of the Reichraming and Sensen mountain ranges an endless green wilderness.

63. Libyan Sahara: Water from the Desert

October 30, 2001

"Bahr Bel'á M'á'", "Waterless Sea ", as the world's largest tropical desert is called by the Beduins: giant waves and treacherous sand banks, barely navigable in some areas, storm-swept - and bone-dry.

62. The Otter's Trail

November 12, 1998

During the mid-80s, zoologists still regarded the European otter as a species on the verge of extinction. What they did not take into consideration was the fact that the shy aquatic animals are extremely adaptable.

61. Carnuntum: Metropolis in the Land of the Barbarians

May 28, 2006

According to accounts by the Roman historian Paterculus, in the year 6 A.D. a Roman army under Tiberius put up its winter camp in the Celtic Noricum.

60. Genepool of the Alps

August 10, 2010

The Alpine Zoo in Innsbruck is unique in many ways. Situated at 750 metres above sea level, it is regarded as Europes highest-altitude zoo.

59. Let It Snow!

May 7, 2008

"Snow is snow is snow" one might be tempted to say. Yet people in the Arctic have hundred of different names for snow while other cultures have never seen it.

58. Green Islands in a Sea of Stone

February 6, 1997

As the Alps have pushed skyward for millions of years, tossing up wave crests of rock like a churning sea, an ancient high plateau in their very midst has remained steadfast and calm.

57. From Valley Deep to Mountain High

May 23, 2010

In the near future, some of the settlement areas will become uninhabitable, and new land will need to be tapped into because of climate change.

56. Power of the Rainbow

March 15, 1998

The beauty of nature's colours only becomes visible in sunlight. The various colours appear when light divides. If sunlight refracts when it hits raindrops, the colourful miracle of the rainbow is created.

55. Prince of the Alps

June 3, 2007

The red deer is he biggest and the most common species in Central Europe. It's still there because of its adaptability; when hunters intruded into their habitat and pushed them further back in the forest, the reed deer survived.

54. The Valley of the Ravens

September 18, 1997

At the edge of the Dead Mountains lies an enchanting, sparsely populated area: the inner Alm Valley. Especially in winter up to 120 half-grown ravens gather in the area around the wild animal park to steal food.

53. Voynich Code: The Worlds Most Mysterious Manuscript

December 1, 2010

It is the world's most mysterious manuscript. A book, written by an unknown author, illustrated with pictures that are as bizarre as they are puzzling and written in a language that even the best cryptographers have been unable to decode.

52. Kamp: A River for All Senses

March 26, 2006

Far from being a long, let alone a wide river, the waters of the Kamp river feed one of the most fascinating valley landscapes of Lower Austria.

51. The Flight of the Bald Ibis

April 18, 2003

Teaching migrating birds to migrate may sound like teaching your grandmother to suck eggs. But behind this curious-looking project is the story of a species persecuted to the point of total extinction in Europe.

50. The Karst: Life Between Heaven and Hell

October 7, 2009

A scraggy land of harsh beauty but full of deception as well. This film explores the hidden charms of the stony cliffs along the Gulf of Trieste, the original home of the white horses from Lipica.

49. Saga of the White Tailed Eagle

January 1, 2011

The sea eagle was once widespread throughout almost all of Europe and graced the coats of arms of many different countries.

48. Lake Woerthersee - Where Man and Nature Meet

January 1, 2011

Lake Woerthersee in the Austrian state of Carinthia is not only one of the most beautiful lakes in Austria, but also, in the truest sense of the phrase an "internationally famous stretch of water."

47. From Drought to Deluge

January 1, 2011

In the 21st century, the average rainfall will increase and likewise its intensity.

46. Sky Hunters - the World of the Dragonfly

January 1, 2010

They hover over ponds and pools and inhabit the banks of rivers and streams. With their dazzling metallic colours and unique ways of flying they are truly jewels of the air.

45. Sea of Creepy Monsters

January 1, 2010

The Lembeh strait in the northern part of the Idonesian island of Sulawesi is a unique hotspot of marine biodiversity.

44. Big Picture

January 1, 2010

What we see from space is the big picture of Earth. This is a science documentary with a difference.

43. Rose - Queen of Flowers

January 1, 2010

Throughout the world, roses speak an unmistakeable language. They have touched and seduced mankind for thousands of years, while their names and varieties reflect contemporary history.

42. Year of the Hedgehog

January 1, 2009

It's springtime, the air is tepid, the skylarks chirp, and spring flowers cover the meadows and the forest grounds

41. City of Steel - City of Life

January 1, 2009

Linz, the capital of the Province of Upper Austria, serves as European Capital of Culture in 2009.

40. Bohemia - A Year in the Wetlands

January 1, 2009

In Bohemia, at the very heart of Europe, south of the Golden City of Prague and guarded by medieval castles, lies a hidden mosaic of lakes and gently flowing rivers, of misty forests and mysterious peat bogs.

39. River Without Frontiers

January 1, 2009

The Morava river with its forests is one of the most beautiful and ecologically valuable riverscapes featuring the richest biodiversity in all of Central Europe.

38. Magic of the Mountains

January 1, 2009

This is the story of a land, where forces of nature are at play - beyond all things that a human can ever dominate or be able to conquer.

37. Wasteland Warriors

January 1, 2009

Surrounded by barren cities, sterile concrete or over maintained, uniform patches of green, more and more animals are losing their last places of retreat.

36. From Freezer to Furnace

January 1, 2008

This is a journey to the hottest and coldest places on earth, where people go about their everyday lives under extreme conditions - and even enjoy it.

35. Fu Long: Little Panda, Happy Dragon

January 1, 2008

Entire Austria was buzzing with excitement as for the first time ever in the history of European zoos a panda baby was born naturally and in good health.

34. The Treasury - Viennas Natural History Museum

January 1, 2008

For the world famous newspaper, the "Sunday Times", an English team of museum specialists determined the ten best museums of this world - Austria's Natural History Museum of Vienna was within the top ten.

33. Death at Dawn

January 1, 2008

Premuda, June 10th, 1918 6:05 am: The Szent Istvan is sinking. The most modern battleship of the K.u.K. fleet has been hit by two torpedoes on its maiden voyage.

32. The Climate Change Bug

January 1, 2008

For some time now the question of whether or not climate change is taking place has been more or less settled. The issue that remains largely unanswered however is: how will we cope with climate change and what effect will it have on our flora and fauna

31. Jackals - Out of Africa

January 1, 2007

In some cultures, jackals were pursued and condemned as pests that fed on parasite-infested carcasses.

30. Ol Man River Mississippi

January 1, 2007

Perhaps the best known river on the planet, made famous by writers like Mark Twain, by the romance of the steamboat age and by the blues music spawned along its banks, Ol Man River still hides many secrets.

29. Tasmania - Paradise at the End of the World

January 1, 2007

It was only two hundred years ago that Tasmania was a British colony known as Van Diemens Land and so remote that its only use was as a penal settlement for the most hardened criminals.

28. Napoli Dogs

January 1, 2006

A soap opera set in the charming harbour side of Naples. More resembling a feature film than a documentary we stylishly will follow the fate of a pack of street dogs as they struggle for survival. Love affairs and gang raids guaranteed!

27. Wild Mongolia

January 1, 2006

One of the most stunning, untouched landscapes on earth is found in the heartland of Asia: stretching from the impenetrable forests of Siberia in the North to the Chinese wall in the South and touching the horizon in the distance.

26. Baja - The Other California

January 1, 2005

Baja California stretches 750 miles southwards from its famous neighbour, the State of California and is a 1000 kilometers long peninsula that sticks out into the Pacific.

25. Namaqualand

January 1, 2005

Namaqualand is the setting for an annual wildlife fairytale. Every year in the narrow window between the cold wet winter and scorchingly-hot, dry summer, the largest floral canvas on our planet reaches a brief, but magnificent crescendo.

24. Laos Wonderland

January 1, 2005

There are certain countries that, mysteriously, seem to elude the prying eyes of the rest of the world, that evade the noise and pressure of modern life.

23. Appalachia: The Endless Forest

January 1, 2005

Some of the richest forests in the world cover the ridges and valleys of the southern Appalachians.

22. Greece - Garden of the Gods

January 1, 2005

Greece, the Ancient Empire, is the residence of the Gods from Artemis to Zeus. A sanctuary of impressive temples, ruins, mystical places of worship and home to a rich fauna and flora.

21. Flight of the Stork

January 1, 2005

This program tells the story of a bird known and loved by everyone. In many cultures it is a bearer of good fortune. In ancient China it was the symbol of long life, in ancient Egypt of godliness: the white stork.

20. Cuba - Wild Island of the Caribbean

January 1, 2004

Cuba is a tropical paradise. It is the largest and yet least known island in the Caribbean. In recent years it has become famous for its old American cars, Fidel Castro's brand of communism, cigars and rum.

19. Genghis Khan - Rider of the Apocalypse

January 1, 2004

Genghis Khan - Rider of the Apocalypse tells the story of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in history.

18. Poisoned

January 1, 2004

A condemned prisoner is led down a cold stone corridor, lit only by torches, to a dark chamber where his life will end. He will die when the vital energy-producing chemical machinery inside each and every one of his cells is blocked by a complex reaction.

17. Ants - Natures Secret Power

January 1, 2004

UNIVERSUM cameraman Wolfgang Thaler and Bert Hoelldobler, a leading authority on ants, bring us face-to-face with the mysterious world of these social insects.

16. Alpine Lakes - Quiet Beauty

January 1, 2003

Springs, streams, ponds, lakes and rivers have forged our landscape over thousands of years.

15. The Dragons of the Canaries

January 1, 2003

If we hear of a newly discovered animal species in the 21st century we cannot help pricking up our ears.

14. Almendro - Tree of Life

January 1, 2000

Costa Rica is a narrow bridge between North and South America and a watershed between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

13. Schoenbrunn - Well of Beauty

January 1, 2003

Georg Riha applies unusual perspectives to the "Schoenbrunn" theme.

12. The Incredible Hulik and His Beavers

January 1, 2002

A dedicated young man spent more than three hundred days and nights in the wild riverine forest along the river March, separating Slovakia and Austria.

11. Umbria: From Wreck to Reef

July 25, 2001

On June 10, 1940, the Umbria, an Italian man-of-war, was scuttled in the Red Sea near Port Sudan. Tons of ammunition, 300.000 bombs and air mines, military trucks, motorcycles and silver coins sank to the bottom of the sea.

10. Salt - Tears of the Earth

January 1, 2001

There are millions of solutions to the problems of survival but there is only one substance that has awakened all organisms to life: salt.

9. Trees of Tempting Fruit

January 1, 2000

The Mostviertel, Austria's pear country, stretches from the river Danube to the Alps, right in the heart of Austria.

8. Ancient Amazon

July 25, 2000

Through an expedition to seek proof in support of the theory that one hundred and thirty million years ago the original source of the Amazon was located in the Ounianga Kébir lake.