A large school of slender, silver barracuda fish swims closely together in clear blue ocean water above a rocky seabed, capturing the beauty beneath Mallorca’s pristine beaches for those who love to travel.
Two black piglets stand on dry straw outdoors in Mallorca, with sunlight creating dappled shadows on their bodies. The background, slightly blurred, hints at another pig and lush greenery, capturing a charming glimpse beyond the island’s famous beaches and travel spots.
An octopus rests on the seafloor surrounded by shells, seaweed, and marine plants, with clear blue water reminiscent of Mallorca’s stunning beaches in the background.

Mallorca – The wild Side

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·In Production

Beneath sunlit skies lie caves, cliffs, and creatures most tourists never see: Mallorca's wild side!

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Genre
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
In Production
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Synopsis

Mallorca – usually no more than a two- to three-hour flight from major European cities. Over the past 50 years, this Spanish island has become one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Mediterranean. While countless beaches and the infamous “Ballermann” attract over 10 million tourists annually, the island’s wild side remains hidden from most visitors.

Take the north, for example, where in the remote Tramuntana Mountains many peaks over a thousand meters high rise up, often shrouded in mist. It is home to wild goats, red kites, and Europe’s largest bird of prey, the monk vulture.

From west to east, the historic Gran Recorrido GR 221 hiking trail crosses the mountains. The trail leads past centuries-old dry-stone walls and terraces, a legacy of the Moorish conquerors, all the way to the monk vultures’ remote nesting sites. Bird warden Pep Tapia has been monitoring the breeding success of these mighty birds for decades and supports them during the critical rearing phase.

Mallorca’s underwater world is also surprisingly diverse. Since regions such as the island of Sa Dragonera have been placed under nature conservation, life is returning. Where overfishing once prevailed, giant groupers and impressive schools of barracudas now patrol the waters once again.  Colourful octopuses, too, now find not only refuge but also ample food in the island’s reefs. And in an ambitious mission, biologist Deborah Morrison is attempting to reintroduce endangered seahorses into the protective seagrass beds, thereby securing the future of the species.

On land, too, people are working to protect the island’s wildlife. Pig farmer Pep Martorell has dedicated himself to preserving the Porc Negre. This unique breed of black pigs nearly went extinct in the 1980s. Today, the animals are once again free to roam the island’s holm oak forests, and the population has recovered.

In the very south of the Balearic island, in the salt flats of Es Trenc, we encounter a special interplay of traditional craftsmanship and natural landscape. The harvesting of sea salt ensures the preservation of a vast wetland that serves as a vital refuge for thousands of birds.

Here, one can also observe one of the island’s most colourful wonders: the pink flamingo finds in the salt flats exactly the food that gives its plumage its characteristic colour.

“MALLORCA – THE WILD SIDE” is a journey to the hidden wonders of a seemingly familiar island paradise. A film that invites you to see Mallorca with completely new eyes – and to discover its wild side.

Team

Written and directed by Thomas Behrend
Executive producers Ivo Filatsch, Petra Lederhilger, Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer, Jörn Röver
Production companies A co-production of Doclights/NDR Naturfilm and Terra Mater Studios
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