Wolves from the Chernobyl site have been roaming freely beyond the nuclear disaster zone's border, increasing fears that they will spread mutant genes.
The site became off limits to humans after the nuclear power plant disaster on 26 April 1986, due to concerns about the level of radiation, although it has opened to tourism in recent years.
But it is thought that the lack of human interference has allowed animals to thrive in the 18.6-mile-wide exclusion zone.
Wolves began to take over the site in 2016, when their population was thought to be around 300.
Scientists have followed the wolves as the population has grown to a number now estimated to be up to seven times greater than that of surrounding reserves.
Fourteen grey wolves (13 adults and one male juvenile) were tracked using GPS collars to see how far they strayed from the exclusion zone.
Study lead author and wildlife ecologist Michael Byrne told Live Science: "No wolves there were glowing - they all have four legs, two eyes and one tail."
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