Dokumentation 1: MELA

This short (20 min) documentary presents Project MELA (Mating Ecology of Lek Breeding Antelope), an interdisciplinary research initiative supported by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz.

The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at how scientific knowledge is generated and shared—from formulating research questions to conducting fieldwork using both drone technology and traditional methods, and engaging with local communities.

The documentary explores key questions in behavioural ecology, focusing on lekking behaviour and the remarkable mating displays of Blackbucks at one of the largest known mammalian leks. In addition to showcasing scientific inquiry, it also highlights important but often overlooked aspects of field research, including community interaction, capacity building, and science communication.

Created for educational purposes, this film is both an invitation to engage with the scientific process and a reflection on the broader impact of…