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.