Botanica Films

What begins as a field capture becomes a lifelong passion. 🦇🌿 For Dr. Bernal Rodríguez Herrera, studying Ectophylla alba was not only part of his PhD journey. It became a mission to inspire new generations of bat researchers across Latin America. Today, that same passion continues through his students, fieldwork, and conservation efforts. 🎬 Leaf Architects is more than a documentary about tent-making bats: it’s a story about mentorship, curiosity, and the people dedicating their lives to understanding these extraordinary animals. Our documentary film is now out! Help us spread the word by watching, sharing, and diving into the hidden world of the leaf architects. LeafArchitects #TentMakingBats #EctophyllaAlba #BatConservation #WildlifeDocumentary #NationalGeographic

🌿🦇 La espera ha llegado a su fin. Les presentamos Arquitectos de las hojas. Adéntrate en el mundo de los murciélagos tienderos, pequeños arquitectos del bosque que transforman hojas en refugios y juegan un papel clave en la regeneración de los ecosistemas. Este cortometraje, financiado por la National Geographic Society, revela uno de los comportamientos más sorprendentes de la naturaleza. 🎬 Ya disponible. 🔗 Encuentra los links de la versión en inglés y en español en nuestra bio. ________________________________________ 🌿🦇 The wait is over. We present Leaf Architects. Step into the world of tent-making bats—tiny forest architects that transform leaves into shelters while playing a key role in ecosystem regeneration. This short documentary, funded by the National Geographic Society, unveils one of nature’s most fascinating behaviors. 🎬 Now streaming. 🔗 Find both English and Spanish versions in our bio.

It’s Bat Appreciation Day! 🦇🌿 For the first time ever, we captured on camera Ectophylla alba giving birth and feeding on the placenta, a rare and intimate moment that reveals how much we still have to learn about these incredible animals. Bats don’t just build unique roosts, they help sustain forests and hold fascinating stories we are only beginning to uncover. Discover more in Leaf Architects, premiering April 22. 🌱🎬

Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo es filmar un documental de naturaleza? 🌿🎥 Entre calor, humedad, lodo… y mucha paciencia, así es como logramos capturar una de las historias más increíbles del bosque: los murciélagos tienderos, verdaderos arquitectos de las hojas. 🦇🍃 Detrás de cada toma hay trabajo en equipo, curiosidad y un profundo respeto por la naturaleza. Descubre todos los secretos detrás de estas fascinantes estructuras en nuestro documental “Arquitectos de las hojas”, que se estrena este 22 de abril. ¿Estás listo para verlo? 👀✨ 📸 Armando Vega @armandovega.photo / National Geographic ENGLISH 
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to film a nature documentary? 🌿🎥 Through heat, humidity, mud… and a lot of patience, this is how we captured one of the forest’s most fascinating stories: tent-roosting bats, the true architects of leaves. 🦇🍃 Behind every shot, there is teamwork, curiosity, and a deep respect for nature. Discover the secrets behind these incredible structures in our documentary “Leaf Architects”, premiering on April 22. Are you ready to watch it? 👀✨

We’re so excited to finally share the trailer for Leaf Architects🦇🌿 — a short film that unveils bats as you’ve never seen them before — tiny, bright-white creatures transforming rainforest leaves 🌿 into living architecture. Through the eyes of biologist Dr. Bernal Rodríguez Herrera (@bernalrodriguezherrera ), we reveal behaviors captured for the very first time—from delicate construction to the vital role bats play in regenerating tropical forests 🌱 🎬 The film will be available on YouTube — April 22nd 🤍 Big thanks to the incredible family of people and institutions that helped us make this film come to live: Supported by @insidenatgeo A film by @botanicafilms Co-Directed by Emi Kondo @la.orquidea.ninja & Thomas Poole @tompoole_dp 🎥 DoP: @tompoole_dp The @leafarchitectsproject team: @bernalrodriguezherrera , @batmanmedell ín, @jcvargasmena , @dcafaggi , @armandovega.photo , @analuarevalo , @giuappel , @ragde_sanchez , @eduardo.venticinque Featuring: Dr. Bernal Rodríguez Herrera - Research Center of Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology & Biology School of University of Costa Rica @bernalrodriguezherrera 🎙️ Narrated by Dr. Rodrigo Medellín @batmanmedell ín 🎼 Music: Micaela Carballo @micaelacarballocompositora ✂️ Edit: Kim Elizondo Navarro @matikisima 🎨 Color: Edith Alfaro @feoamor 🔊 Sound design and Mix: Mauricio Mora @moracio10 @longbeachrecords Technical Advisors: Emmanuel Rojas Valerio @emmanuelrv80 & Julio Madriz 🎥 Camera Assistant: Miguel Martinez @mike.mike.mtz 💪Production Assistants: @debi.ediaz , @josebarquero07 & @clara.hommers 🌎 Special thanks to @ye_dukur and all collaborators and field teams—especially @tirimbina , @canopalmabiostation , @veraguafoundation , @tropicalstudiesoet , and @rionuevo_naturereserve . 🎥 Filmed on @reddigitalcinema

In the tropical forests of Central and South America, tent-making bats use their teeth and claws to transform leaves into cozy shelters. A recent National Geographic article highlights our work in the Neotropics and features an incredible discovery in Guatemala🦇🍃🇬🇹 These tiny builders are also ecosystem heroes. By feeding on fruit and dispersing seeds beneath their tents, they help regenerate forests and support biodiversity. Their creativity reminds us that nature has no limits. Check out the article’s link in our bio! Photos: @armandovega.photo Video: @la.orquidea.ninja @tompoole_dp #Bats #Guatemala #Biodiversity #Conservation #Wildlife ________________________________ En los bosques tropicales de Centro y Sudamérica, los murciélagos tienderos usan sus dientes y garras para transformar hojas en refugios acogedores. Un reciente artículo de National Geographic destaca nuestro trabajo en el Neotrópico y presenta un increíble hallazgo en Guatemala 🦇🍃🇬🇹 Estos pequeños constructores también son héroes del ecosistema. Al alimentarse de frutos y dispersar semillas bajo sus refugios, ayudan a regenerar los bosques y a mantener la biodiversidad. Su creatividad nos recuerda que la naturaleza no tiene límites. ¡Consulta el enlace del artículo en nuestra biografía!

Meet Thomas Poole (@tompoole_dp ), another incredible My World filmmaker! 🎥 A wildlife filmmaker, director of photography, and co-founder of Botanica Films (@botanicafilms ), Thomas was born and raised in Namibia and South Africa and brings over a decade of experience crafting powerful natural history stories from around the world. He has filmed for Netflix, National Geographic, PBS, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, ZDF, and NBC, and produced impactful work for conservation and human rights organizations including the United Nations and Amnesty International. 🌍 Thomas filmed Jaguar Spirit, produced and directed Leaf Architects, and is currently directing and producing Tapir Valley: Land of Dreams — a deeply immersive film following Donald Varela Soto’s rewilding journey in northern Costa Rica. 🌱🐾 With a Master’s in Wildlife Filmmaking from UWE Bristol, Thomas thrives at the intersection of technical excellence and immersive storytelling, always guided by a deep respect for wild places and the people protecting them. ✨ Learn more about Thomas and Tapir Valley: Land of Dreams via the link in our bio! #MyWorldFilmGrant #WildlifeFilmmaker @donaldtapirvalley @tapirvalleycr #SchoolyardFilms

Meet Emi Kondo (@la.orquidea.ninja ), another incredible My World Film Fund filmmaker! ✨ A Producer/Director, National Geographic Explorer (@natgeo ), and Co-Founder of Botanica Films (@botanicafilms ), Emi has spent more than a decade exploring the extraordinary ways humans and animals shape one another’s worlds. She has created films for PBS (@pbs ), ZDF (@zdf.de ), Love Nature (@lovenature ), and the BBC (@bbc ) — always driven by a deep curiosity for wildlife and the people fighting to protect it. 🎥🌿 Her National Geographic Society–funded films Jaguar Spirit and Leaf Architects dive into two remarkable stories: the urgent fight against jaguar trafficking in Bolivia, and the ingenious architectural talents of bats that help regenerate rainforests. 🦇 ⭐️ Emi was awarded our 2024 MWFG x Jackson Wild Grant (@jacksonwildorg ). In partnership with the world’s premier natural history storytelling summit, this grant celebrates rising voices in wildlife filmmaking.🌱✨ More on Emi and her film via the link in our bio! #MyWorldFilmGrant #SchoolYardFilms #WildlifeFilmmaker Tapir EmiKondo WildlifeFilmmaking @donaldtapirvalley @tapirvalleycr

We’re thrilled to see Nightmares of Nature now streaming on Netflix! The Jungles episode takes viewers deep into the heart of the tropics — where life and death are in constant dance beneath the canopy. We’re proud to have contributed as second camera, drone operators, and local producers, capturing some wildest and beautiful moments for the series. Huge thanks to the incredible team at @plimsollproductions @joecraig724 @georgewoodcock_films Charlotte Lathane, @jordan_white19 Julio Madriz & Arturo Gamburo - a dream crew to collaborate with in the field. 🎥 Watch Nightmares of Nature on Netflix now — and see the jungles come alive. #NightmaresOfNature #NetflixDocumentary #PlimsollProductions #BotanicaFilms #WildlifeFilmmaking #CostaRica #DroneCinematography #NatureDocumentary

Hoy nuestro proyecto en las páginas de @natgeo.la Amamos ser parte de @leafarchitectsproject y no sería posible sin la constante ayuda de @insidenatgeo y la guía de @bernalrodriguezherrera - que comience a llover el amor por los murciélagos 🦇🦇🦇 Today our project in the pages of @natgeo.la We love being part of @leafarchitectsproject and it wouldn’t be possible without the constant help of @insidenatgeo and the guide of @bernalrodriguezherrera - let the love for bats to start pouring 🦇🦇🦇

🇬🇧 We’re thrilled to finally share our work as local producers, drone and additional camera in Costa Rica for Deep Dive North America, now airing on @natgeo in the US, @skytv in the UK, and streaming worldwide on @lovenature ! 🌎 Last year we had the pleasure of working on this shoot — here are some photos of some BTS moments. It was also an honor to work alongside the amazing @lizziedalywild and the team at @bigwavetv , bringing the jaguar and turtle sequences in Costa Rica to life. We love strengthening connections with local scientists in Costa Rica, especially Victor Montalvo @victorcr57 , whose work focuses on jaguars and other wild cats, monitoring them to support their conservation and habitat management. We hope you enjoy the series and that we can continue building bridges with local scientists and knowledge, and keep sharing Costa Rica’s natural wonders with the world. 🇪🇸 ¡Estamos felices de finalmente poder compartir nuestro trabajo como productores locales, dron y cámara adicional en Costa Rica para Deep Dive North America, que se transmite en natgeochannel en EE. UU., @skytv en Reino Unido y en todo el mundo por @lovenature ! 🌎 El año pasado tuvimos el placer de trabajar en este rodaje — aquí algunas fotos de detrás de cámaras. También fue un honor trabajar junto a la increíble @lizziedalywild y el equipo de @bigwavetv , dando vida a las secuencias de jaguares y tortugas en Costa Rica. Nos encanta fortalecer la conexión con científicos locales en Costa Rica, especialmente Victor Montalvo @victorcr57 , cuyo trabajo se centra en jaguares y otros felinos silvestres, monitoreándolos para apoyar su conservación y manejo de hábitats. Esperamos que disfruten la serie y que sigamos construyendo puentes con científicxs y conocimientos locales, y compartiendo las maravillas naturales de Costa Rica con el mundo.