The Azorean island of São Miguel is in constant flux. Seismic activity and human interventions continuously reshape the landform. The wind and tides bring migratory species to its shores. Transiting humans carry plants, animals, insects, traditions, and practices in and out of the island. In an era where we are obsessed with permanence, São Miguel embodies impermanence.

Native species on the island also experience this transience. The primeval Laurisilva forest that once spanned all of São Miguel, is now confined to small regions across the island. The São Miguel Owl went extinct in the 15th century with the arrival of the first human settlers. he endangered Priolo (Azores bullfinch) is now experiencing a promising resurgence. Through interactions with fossils, testimonies, and other entities of the island, Não Mexer Nos Animais explores the theme of ephemerality.

This film is a poetic and essayistic exploration of life and death in São Miguel. It focuses on the studies of the fossils of the São Miguel Owl, imagining the island as it was when this creature existed. Additionally, it highlights a bird rescue center dedicated to increasing the population of the Priolo, offering a glimpse into the island's present and a vision for its future. 

Amid this dialogue between past and future are the island's inhabitants—both human and non-human—who carry memory and knowledge. The film attempts to construct a visual narrative from a non-human perspective, emphasizing the viewpoints of animals and landscapes as they interact with humans in the Azores.

Não Mexer Nos Animais delves into the delicate balance of an ecosystem in flux, presenting a meditation on change and continuity. By focusing on the interplay between extinct species, endangered species, and human influences, the film aims to evoke a deeper understanding of the island's natural history and the ongoing efforts to preserve its unique biodiversity. Through this lens, the film invites audiences to reflect on the broader implications of human impact on nature and the enduring cycle of life and death.