Main content

The Uruguayan conservationist and the great parrot heist

Juan Villalba-Macías has risked his life to rescue animals from the clutches of poachers, including two baby parrots who inspired the animated film Rio.

Juan Villalba-Macías has spent decades trying to protect wildlife. He's gone undercover to scupper million-dollar, animal-trafficking deals. He's also rescued two stolen, baby, blue parrots, the last born in the wild, in the midst of a dictatorship. Juan now lives on the nature reserve he created to try and bring native species back from the brink of extinction.

Film clip from Rio (Carlos Saldanha/ Blue Sky Studios & 20th Century Fox Animation)

Presenter & Producer: Louise Morris
Dubbing by Fede di Lorenzo

Photo: Juan Villalba-Macías and the collared peccaries
Credit: Louise Morris

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Christmas Day 202303:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 23 Dec 202305:32GMT
  • Sat 23 Dec 202311:32GMT
  • Sat 23 Dec 202319:32GMT
  • Christmas Eve 202300:32GMT
  • Christmas Eve 202309:32GMT
  • Christmas Eve 202322:32GMT
  • Christmas Day 202303:32GMT

Contact Outlook

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected