April 2025 – Miguel and Elena are the perfect couple – the classic story, love at first sight. But Miguel is a fisherman, and with the oceans warming, he has to travel farther and farther to find fish. He goes so far, in fact, that he disappears. Heartbroken, Elena seeks comfort in the arms of Ernesto, Miguel’s best friend. But just as the couple seems to have found happiness again, Miguel returns from his long voyage.
It could easily be the plot of a Mexican telenovela. But it’s happening in the real world with black-browed albatrosses, one of the most faithful species in the animal world. Animals known for relationships that can last over 50 years are getting “divorced” for the first time in history. And why? The climate crisis, which is warming the planet’s oceans and forcing albatrosses to fly longer and longer distances to find food. That means that couples may not be reunited in time for mating season, which triggers a search for new partners.
This is the plot of “Muy Caliente,” the first “Mexican telenovela” produced by WWF-Brasil in partnership with AlmapBBDO, which uses offbeat humor to alert people about how climate change is damaging the planet and the life to which it is home. The first of the series’ three episodes is already available on WWF-Brasil’s social media. In addition to raising awareness, the initiative is meant to designed to spur donations to help the organization conserve marine life.
Watch now: Muy Caliente
“Among our missions is to reduce the impact of climate change on marine socio-biodiversity, which includes preserving coral reefs, creating marine reserves, and working on the public policies that will be essential for the survival of marine ecosystems and for our future,” says Marina Corrêa, conservation analyst and leader of oceans for WWF-Brasil. “Besides ‘Muy Caliente,’ WWF-Brasil has a variety of projects to protect the oceans.”
“The plot is based on classic Mexican telenovelas such as La Usurpadora, Llamas de la Pasión, and the other classics we all watched on SBT. At the same time, it’s an authentic depiction of the impacts of the climate crisis on ocean life,” says Cake Llaguno, a creative copywriter at AlmapBBDO. “We got script supervision from a biologist, helping us craft a fun, moving, and playful narrative around the problems these animals have faced. All designed to inform and touch audiences who’ve been hearing nonstop about climate issues.”
The series was produced by Vetor Zero Lobo and directed by Gabriel Nóbrega, with audio, soundtrack, and sound design by PUNCH Audio.
Albatrosses, sentinels of the oceans
Albatrosses play a hugely important role in ocean health and maintaining marine biodiversity. They migrate long distances and travel far and wide to find food, going so far as to fly all around Antarctica. Albatrosses aren’t just majestic marine birds – they’re the sentinels of the oceans. Their long voyages reflect the health of marine ecosystems. And right now, they’re in danger.
When albatross couples divorce, that serves as a warning about the impact of climate change on marine socio-biodiversity. They’re not the only ones being directly affected by warming oceans – the phenomenon also leads to coral bleaching, which destroys habitats and triggers a domino effect, damaging 25% of marine biodiversity. And that’s not the least of it: coastal communities face more punishing storms, rising sea levels, and the loss of their ways of life, such as fishing and tourism. By protecting the oceans, we protect life – theirs and ours.
The climate crisis is a threat to marine socio-biodiversity, and to us all. It’s time to act. To support WWF-Brasil and help conserve marine species and protect the oceans, go to: doe.wwf.org.br/oceanos
