SpaceWhale Studio

02/11/2025

🌿 After months of sharing each chapter, we’re proud to release the full documentary about the Gilbert’s Potoroo – Ngilkat. Hope in the Balance.

This is the story of the world’s rarest marsupial, told through the people working tirelessly to bring it back from the brink.

🎬 Watch the full film in HD on YouTube:

👉 https://youtu.be/sADF3lC9NvQ

Each of the five chapters comes together here, different colours and moods, different music, one shared purpose: keeping this species alive.

If you’ve followed the clips so far, please take a moment to watch, share, and help spread the word. 💚

🇪🇸 For everyone in Spain and beyond who asked: the video also includes Spanish subtitles!

On YouTube, just click the [CC] button and select “Español (Spanish)” or “English” for captions.

⚠️ Facebook video compression can really flatten the image and sound, so for the best viewing experience, see it in full 4K or HD glory on YouTube!

This video was jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and South Coast Natural Resource Management, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners Panel, and Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group (GPAG).

South Coast NRM and GPAG work together with the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to protect Australia’s most endangered marsupial.

After months of sharing the five chapters of this journey, I’m thrilled to release the full-length film, a complete story that brings together every strand o...

07/10/2025

🌏 The Future of Gilbert’s Potoroo.

Can we save the world’s rarest marsupial? In this final chapter, we look ahead — at conservation efforts, challenges, and the hope that Gilbert’s Potoroo can survive for future generations.

👉 Subscribe and share to help spread awareness.

💚 Support conservation: www.potoroo.org

About this episode:

From rediscovery to survival against the odds, Gilbert’s Potoroo has always walked a thin line between existence and extinction. Today, conservationists are working to secure its future — through habitat protection, translocations, and community support. The story is not over: with awareness and action, there is still hope for the rarest marsupial on Earth.

Quick facts:

* 🌱 Future depends on secure habitats and genetic diversity.
* 👫 Community support is critical to long-term survival.
* 🦘 One of the world’s rarest mammals — but not yet lost.

About the project:

This video is part of a collaboration with Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and South Coast Natural Resource Management working together with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to protect Australia’s most endangered marsupial.

Produced, Filmed & Edited: Javier Delgado Esteban.

Narration: Matilda Johnson.

Score Composition: Javier Delgado Esteban. V - What the Future Holds. 2025.

Stock Images: Envato Australia and Wirestock. Gilbert ́s Potoroo courtesy of Dick Walker/GPAG. Potoroo release video at Two Peoples Bay courtesy of Leigh Whisson - Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group.

With Gratitude

Dr Elizabeth Sinclair - UWA Oceans Institute
Dr Bronte Van Helden - South Coast Natural Resource Management
Dr Jackie Courtenay - Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group
Dr Sarah Comer - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Dr Tony Friend - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Steve Toole - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Jennene Riggs - Riggs Australia Media

We acknowledge the Menang Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of Two Peoples Bay and its surrounding lands and waters.

We recognise their deep cultural, spiritual and ongoing connection to Country, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Filmed under Regulation 4 authority permit on location at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Waychinicup National Park.

This video was jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and South Coast NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel and the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group (GPAG).

30/09/2025

Chapter IV - 🔥 On the Brink

In 2015, fire tore through Two Peoples Bay, destroying 90% of the last natural habitat of Gilbert’s Potoroo.

The loss of the Two Peoples Bay population due to a catastrophic fire had been a major concern ever since the rediscovery so insurance populations had already been established by Parks and Wildlfe WA on Bald Island and in a 380 ha fenced enclosure at Waychinicup National Park.

This forethought and preparatory action saved the species from almost certain extinction.

👉 Subscribe to learn more

💚 Support conservation: www.potoroo.org

About this episode:

After rediscovery, conservationists worked tirelessly to project Gilbert’s Potoroo. But in 2015 disaster struck: fire swept through Two Peoples Bay, almost destroying the population there.

Thanks to earlier protective action, small populations were already established as insurance on Bald Island and in a secure enclosure at Waychinicup National Park - lifelines that prevented the species’ extinction in 2015 and keep the species alive today. An additional insurance population was created on Middle Island in 2018.

Quick facts:

🔥 2015 fire destroyed ~90% of natural habitat at Two Peoples Bay.
🏝️ Insurance populations had already been created on Bald Island and at the Waychinicup enclosure. An additional population was created on Middle Island after the fire.
⏳ Global population: fewer than 150 individuals.

About the project:

This video is part of a collaboration with Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and South Coast Natural Resource Management working together with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to protect Australia’s most endangered marsupial.

Produced, Filmed & Edited: Javier Delgado Esteban.
Narration: Matilda Johnson.

Score Composition: Javier Delgado Esteban. IV- Still in Danger. 2025.

Stock Images: Envato Australia and Wirestock. Gilbert ́s Potoroo courtesy of Dick Walker/GPAG. Potoroo release video at Two Peoples Bay courtesy of Leigh Whisson - Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group.

With Gratitude

Dr Elizabeth Sinclair - UWA Oceans Institute
Dr Bronte Van Helden - South Coast Natural Resource Management
Dr Jackie Courtenay - Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group
Dr Sarah Comer - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Dr Tony Friend - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Steve Toole - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Jennene Riggs - Riggs Australia Media

We acknowledge the Menang Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of Two Peoples Bay and its surrounding lands and waters.

We recognise their deep cultural, spiritual and ongoing connection to Country, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Filmed under Regulation 4 authority permit on location at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Waychinicup National Park.
This video was jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and South Coast NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel and the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group (GPAG).

21/09/2025

Why does saving one tiny marsupial matter?

Gilbert’s Potoroo plays a vital role in its ecosystem, shaping biodiversity in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Protecting it means protecting much more.

👉 Subscribe and follow this series as we uncover the rarest marsupial on Earth.

💚 Support conservation: www.potoroo.org

About this episode:

Gilbert’s Potoroo (Ngilkat, Potorous gilbertii) may be small, but it plays a huge part in its ecosystem. By feeding on underground fungi, it spreads spores that keep forests healthy, a keystone role in maintaining biodiversity.

Losing the potoroo would mean losing an entire web of life tied to Australia’s unique ecosystems.

Quick facts:

🍄 Specialist feeder on underground fungi (truffles).
🌱 Vital for forest regeneration.
🦘 If potoroos vanish, many fungi and plants may too.

About the project:

This video is part of a collaboration with Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and South Coast Natural Resource Management working together with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to protect Australia’s most endangered marsupial.

Produced, Filmed & Edited: Javier Delgado Esteban.

Narration: Matilda Johnson.

Score Composition: Javier Delgado Esteban. III - A Big Deal. 2025.

Stock Images: Envato Australia and Wirestock. Gilbert ́s Potoroo courtesy of Dick Walker/GPAG. Potoroo release video at Two Peoples Bay courtesy of Leigh Whisson - Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group.

With Gratitude

Dr Elizabeth Sinclair - UWA Oceans Institute
Dr Bronte Van Helden - South Coast Natural Resource Management
Dr Jackie Courtenay - Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group
Dr Sarah Comer - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Dr Tony Friend - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Steve Toole - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Jennene Riggs - Riggs Australia Media

We acknowledge the Menang Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of Two Peoples Bay and its surrounding lands and waters.

We recognise their deep cultural, spiritual and ongoing connection to Country, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Filmed under Regulation 4 authority permit on location at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Waychinicup National Park.

This video was jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and South Coast NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel and the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group (GPAG).

15/09/2025

Gilbert’s Potoroo was thought extinct for over a century, until one extraordinary rediscovery in 1994 changed everything.

👉 Subscribe and follow this series as we uncover the rarest marsupial on Earth.

💚 Support conservation: www.potoroo.org

About this episode:

In 1879, Gilbert’s Potoroo (Ngilkat, Potorous gilbertii) was last seen and presumed lost forever. For more than 100 years, scientists believed this small nocturnal marsupial had vanished from the planet.

Then, in 1994, researcher Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair made a remarkable discovery at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia.

That moment proved the species was not extinct, but critically endangered — clinging to survival in one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth.

Quick facts:

🌍 Thought extinct for ~115 years.
🔍 Rediscovered in 1994 by Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair.
🦘 One of the rarest mammals in the world.
⏳ Now fewer than 150 individuals remain.

About the project:

This video is part of a collaboration with Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group and South Coast Natural Resource Management working together with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to protect Australia’s most endangered marsupial.

Produced, Filmed & Edited: Javier Delgado Esteban.

Narration: Matilda Johnson.

Score Composition: Javier Delgado Esteban. II - Rediscovery. 2025.

Stock Images: Envato Australia and Wirestock. Gilbert ́s Potoroo courtesy of Dick Walker/GPAG. Potoroo release video at Two Peoples Bay courtesy of Leigh Whisson - Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group.

With Gratitude

Dr Elizabeth Sinclair - UWA Oceans Institute
Dr Bronte Van Helden - South Coast Natural Resource Management
Dr Jackie Courtenay - Gilbert's Potoroo Action Group
Dr Sarah Comer - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Dr Tony Friend - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Steve Toole - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Jennene Riggs - Riggs Australia Media

We acknowledge the Menang Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of Two Peoples Bay and its surrounding lands and waters.

We recognise their deep cultural, spiritual and ongoing connection to Country, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Filmed under Regulation 4 authority permit on location at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Waychinicup National Park.

This video was jointly funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and South Coast NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel and the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group (GPAG).

08/09/2025

The Rarest Marsupial You’ve Never Heard Of | Gilbert’s Potoroo - Chapter I

Meet Gilbert’s Potoroo, the rarest marsupial on Earth.

Hidden away in the south-west corner of Western Australia, fewer than 130 remain.

Each week, we share a new chapter in their story of survival.

👉 Subscribe, share, and help raise awareness.

💚 Support conservation: www.potoroo.org

10/06/2025

I’m thrilled to share that my small documentary film, “Mammang: Southern Right Whales,” has been selected for the 2025 SEA Film Festival in La Spezia, Italy. The festival’s central theme revolves around the sea, aiming to convey the essence of the ocean as experienced, felt, and perceived. You can watch the movie here:

https://youtu.be/83_tajLGdMw

04/02/2025

Mammang is a three-part documentary series by Javier Delgado Esteban a Spanish biologist and filmmaker living in Albany, Western Australia. The series documents part of the migration of the southern right whales along the coast of South Western Australia. Each episode corresponds to one of the six Noongar seasons of Makuru, Djilba, and Kambarang, highlighting the intimate relationship between the whales and the environment, both ocean and land. By weaving together the cycles of the natural world and the stories of these whales.

In the first part of the series, we explore Makuru, the coldest and wettest season, stretching from June to July. As the temperatures drop and the rains arrive, the southern right whales begin their migration, traveling from the open ocean to the sheltered coastal bays. Makuru is a time of renewal, as the whales seek these protected waters to calve and nurse their young in an ideal environment for the whales to find safety and nourishment.

During this period, the coastline transforms, mirroring the whales' journey. The rich rains bring life to the land, filling rivers and waterways and nurturing the diverse ecosystems. For the Noongar people, Makuru is a time of preparation and transition, a season that brings together the land, the sea, and the whales. Through mainly aerial footage , this episode of Mammang offers a window into the cyclical harmony of nature and the ancestral connections that has guided generations.

Southern Right Whales were once on the brink of extinction due to extensive whaling in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their populations have been slowly recovering, but they remain a species of great concern, with current estimates suggesting only 10,000 to 15,000 individuals left worldwide. Conservation efforts are vital to ensure the continued survival of these whales, and this series aims to highlight not only their beauty and majesty but also the ongoing need for their protection.

This film is just the beginning. As part of a broader project, future episodes will delve deeper into the lives of these whales, exploring their interactions with the environment, their social behaviours, and the ongoing conservation efforts that are critical to their survival.

Mammang is a three-part documentary series by Javier Delgado Esteban a Spanish biologist and filmmaker living in Albany, Western Australia. The series docume...

21/01/2025

Monochrome portrait of a Banksia prionotes commonly known as the Acorn Banksia or by its Noongar name Marynet showcasing its first inflorescence in its third year, alongside vibrant new growth.

This stunning native is happily thriving in our garden here in Albany, Western Australia. To capture its intricate beauty, I set up a portable studio, carefully isolating the plant from its surroundings to let its form and texture take center stage.

Banksia, Banksia prionotes is a striking species endemic to Western Australia. Its iconic flower spikes, which can grow up to 40 cm long, are a magnet for nectar-loving birds, bees, and other pollinators, making it a cornerstone for supporting local biodiversity. These flowers eventually develop into woody seed cones, continuing the plant’s fascinating life cycle.

29/11/2024

Discover the Unique Features of the Southern Right Whale

The southern right whale is readily distinguished by the callosities on its head a broad back without a dorsal fin and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye Its skin is very dark grey or black occasionally with some white patches on the belly right whale's callosities appear white due to large colonies of whale lice.

Another clip from my upcoming documentary Mammang: Southern Right Whales & the Noongar Makuru Season (Part 1)

The series documents part of the migration of the southern right whales along the coast of South Western Australia.

Each episode corresponds to one of the six Noongar seasons—Makuru, Djilba, and Kambarang—highlighting the intimate relationship between the whales and the environment, both ocean and land. By weaving together the cycles of the natural world and the stories of these whales.

In the first episode, we explore Makuru, the coldest and wettest season, stretching from June to July. As the temperatures drop and the rains arrive, the southern right whales begin their migration, traveling from the open ocean to the sheltered coastal bays.

Makuru is a time of renewal, as the whales seek these protected waters to calve and nurse their young in an ideal environment for the whales to find safety and nourishment.