Four people on horseback guide a herd of horses through a dusty landscape in Doñana, Spain, sunlight filtering through the haze as the riders and animals move forward.
A chameleon walks across a sandy dune in Doñana with the blue ocean and sky in the background. The chameleon’s colors blend with the sand for camouflage.
A lone person paddles a small boat across a shallow body of water in Doñana, Spain, with scattered patches of green vegetation reflecting the sky above, evoking the serenity of a modern Garden of Eden.

Doñana – Spain’s Garden of Eden

2 x 50 min

A breathtaking journey through drought, rebirth, and the fight to survive

Factsheet
Duration
2 × 50 min
1 × 98 min
Definition
UHD
Audio
5.1
Back to all projects

Synopsis

DOÑANA is a breathtaking portrait of one of Europe’s last true wildernesses. Located in southern Spain, the Coto de Doñana National Park is not only the continent’s largest ecological reserve – it is also a critical resting point for over 300 migratory bird species and a sanctuary for endangered animals such as the Iberian lynx and the white-headed duck.

The film captures the magic of transformation: from drought to abundance, from ancient traditions to thriving biodiversity. Told through immersive, visually rich chapters, it unveils the most compelling stories from this extraordinary ecosystem.

Migratory species like black-tailed godwits, ospreys, ducks, geese – and even flying spiders – travel thousands of kilometres to breed, overwinter, or pause their journey in Doñana. The film also explores fascinating courtship and mating rituals among great and little grebes, white-headed ducks, red and fallow deer, and the Greek tortoise.

In the ever-changing landscape of Doñana’s shifting dunes, powerful winds consume entire pine forests, carving out unique habitats for highly specialised species. But this fragile balance is increasingly under threat. Prolonged droughts, driven by climate change and unsustainable water use, are putting the entire ecosystem at risk.

This two-part documentary also weaves in Andalusia’s deep cultural ties to the land. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims traverse the park on foot or horseback to reach El Rocío, paying homage to the Virgin of El Rocío in one of Europe’s most extraordinary religious gatherings – set against a spectacular natural backdrop.

Another enduring tradition is the Saca de las Yeguas, the annual round-up of the semi-wild Marismeño mares and foals. These ancient Spanish horses, once taken to the Americas by conquistadors, are the ancestors of today’s mustangs.

When the rains finally return, Doñana is reborn. The wetlands burst into life with flamingos, spoonbills, ibises, and herons. On land, wild boar and deer flourish. Even the Iberian lynx – once on the brink of extinction around 2000 – has made a dramatic recovery, with numbers rising from just 50 to more than 2,000 individuals.

At El Acebuche, the world’s leading centre for Iberian lynx conservation, everything from veterinary care to release into the wild showcases the power of committed species protection.

Filmed over 30 months with unprecedented access to strictly protected areas, acclaimed wildlife photographer Joaquín Gutiérrez Acha captures rare animal behaviour and vital conservation efforts – many never before seen on camera.

Doñana is more than just a nature park – it’s a living organism. Every wingbeat, every drop of water tells a story of survival, adaptation, and beauty.

Team

A film by Carmen Rodríguez and Joaquín Gutiérrez Acha
Executive producers Sabine Holzer, José María Morales
Production companies A co-production of Terra Mater Studios and Wanda Natura
Footage rights

Licensing & Usage

Interested in licensing or footage usage?
Contact us directly.

Get in touch