Spain hosts more than half of all European animal species
In short: Spain is often perceived as a land of dry plains and coastal resorts, but it is actually a powerhouse of European biodiversity. From the icy rivers of the north to the deep Mediterranean, it serves as a vital sanctuary for over 50% of the continent's fauna.
The documentary 'Wild Spain. A Tale of Two Brothers' highlights the country's status as a biodiversity hotspot. Spain is home to approximately 85,000 species of flora and fauna. This vast ecological variety allows for a wide range of habitats to coexist, including the pristine forests of Navarre, the silent steppes of La Rioja, and the high peaks of the Pyrenees. The landscape spans from the Andalusian rivers to the Balearic Islands. It includes the deep waters of the Alboran and Cantabrian Seas. These diverse zones support a massive variety of life.
The film follows filmmakers Sergi and Jordi Escandell as they document diverse wildlife across various Spanish regions. Their work captures the social lives of marine mammals like pilot whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean, the aerial maneuvers of the bearded vulture in the Pyrenees, and the behavior of the Salupa fish. They also explore the survival strategies of species like the loggerhead turtle and the fox, illustrating how these animals navigate a rapidly changing environment. The brothers also filmed otters playing and migratory birds traveling. They captured the hunting methods used by jellyfish. These scenes highlight the country's untamed nature.
A key focus of the narrative is the emotional and cognitive complexity of these animals. The filmmakers argue that many species live in societies, care for their families, and experience emotions similar to humans. By combining scientific rigor with intimate filming, the project aims to show the 'essence' of Spanish wildlife—from the reproduction of the Pelagia Noctiluca jellyfish to the return of the beaver—while emphasizing the vulnerability of these species in the face of global change. The footage reveals the Pelagia Noctiluca jellyfish reproducing for the first time on film. It also shows how aquatic mammals endure freezing rivers during the winter months.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Wild Spain | Go Wild
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