The last marbled duck in this wetland dies in the dunes of the Sahara on its migratory journey south. Only 30 pairs of marbled teal survive in all of Europe. It is the aquatic bird with the highest risk of extinction. Thus begins the dramatic story of Patches, the last of its lineage. The survival of a unique species on the planet is at stake.
The nature documentary Patches, a co-production of the Valencian audiovisual companies UKE Motion PA and Docu Produccions, addresses the recovery process of the most endangered duck in Spain. Patches was awarded the “Outstanding Excellence” award at the 2020 edition of the prestigious North American documentary festival “Nature without borders International Film Festival”.
The protagonist of the documentary is an endangered animal species, personalized into two specific individuals, a mother and her daughter. Its story takes place in several Spanish and North African wetlands over two years. In addition to La Albufera, the documentary has been filmed in other wetlands in the Valencian Community such as Marjal de Almenara and Marjal del Moro in Valencia, the Santa Pola Natural Park in Alicante and El Hondo in Elx, as well as in the Andalusian parks of Las Marismas de Odiel and Dehesa de Abajo in Doñana and the wetlands of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. For its realization, it has had the support of La Casa del Mediterráneo and the Generalitat Valenciana, especially the Saler Wildlife Recovery Center of El Saler.
The documentary narrates with mastery and great sensitivity the challenges faced by the last existing marbled teals, in a story full of adventures, discoveries, curiosities and fun.
The narration takes the point of view of the people who develop the project to save the species, among which the Marbled Teal LIFE project has a notable presence, coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. The desires and work of these people provide a clear vision of the problems derived from climate change and its consequences throughout the world.
The marbled teal, classified as “critically endangered” in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species, currently has less than 100 breeding pairs in Western Europe. The loss and degradation of their nesting and feeding habitats are their greatest threats.
Screening times:
Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.
