On Friday, September 18th, hear from Morad Tahbaz, conservationist and founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, in celebration of his new book Green Parrots. Morad is the 2026 recipient of the Explorers Club President’s Award for Courage in Conservation for his conservation work in Iran and resilience through his years of wrongful imprisonment.
Green Parrots is a memoir about resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of the human spirit. While it chronicles Morad Tahbaz’s nearly six years of wrongful imprisonment in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, it is ultimately not a story about captivity. Rather, it is the story of how imagination, art, and a lifelong connection to nature became essential tools for preserving identity, purpose, and hope under the most extraordinary circumstances. Through deeply personal experiences, the book explores universal themes of creativity and resilience, and what it means to remain fully human in the face of profound adversity.
A conversation with Morad Tahbaz at the Explorers Club offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of many of the themes that have defined his life’s work: wildlife conservation. The discussion will examine the inspiration behind Green Parrots, the experiences that shaped it, and how Tahbaz’s work as an environmentalist, artist, and author ultimately converges into a single narrative. While his wrongful imprisonment provides the backdrop to the memoir, the conversation centers on the transformative power of creativity, the preservation of cultural identity, and the enduring lessons that can emerge from even the darkest chapters of life.
The program will also explore how Iran’s remarkable wildlife, and the country’s rich art and cultural history continue to inform both Tahbaz’s writing and his artistic practice. Although his years in prison profoundly influenced his creative expression, they did not define it. His sculptures, drawings, and Persian carpet designs draw inspiration from the same landscapes and endangered species he spent years working to protect, reflecting a lifelong commitment to both conservation and cultural heritage. Today, his artwork has gained international recognition, including the acquisition of one of his works by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for its permanent collection.
More broadly, the conversation invites audiences to reflect on the role of art in preserving memory, the importance of safeguarding both natural and cultural heritage, and the ways creativity can help individuals endure hardship, find meaning, and inspire hope across cultures and generations.
RESERVATIONS
This will be an in-person lecture at Explorers Club Headquarters.
In-person tickets are $20 for Members, and $35 for the General Public.
Check-in will begin at 6:00 pm, with a beer and wine reception from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Morad Tahbaz
Morad Tahbaz is a conservationist, artist, and former political prisoner. In 2008, he co-founded the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which documented endangered species including Asiatic cheetahs and Persian leopards across Iran. In January 2018, he was arrested on fabricated espionage charges and spent sixty-eight months in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, including four months in solitary confinement.
A graduate of Colgate University (BA) and Columbia University (MBA), he spent his career supporting wildlife conservation across three continents before his imprisonment made him the subject of international hostage negotiations. He was released in September 2023 as part of a high-profile diplomatic agreement.
Since his release, he has advocated for other wrongfully detained citizens and for continued attention to Iranian conservation. He lives in Connecticut with his wife Vida.
Morad Tahbaz received the Explorers Club President’s Award for Courage in Conservation in 2026.
