TED Talks Daily The wildlife sanctuary you can visit from anywhere | Maya Higa
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May 12, 2026 
Maya Higa, creator, licensed falconer, and conservationist who founded Alveus Sanctuary, uses livestreaming to bring rescued animals to millions. She discusses rehabilitating a hawk live, fundraising massive support online, running a sanctuary closed to visitors with 24/7 cameras, and plans to breed endangered species for reintroduction.
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How Bean The Hawk Sparked A Global Audience
- Maya Higa turned a zookeeper outreach job into a global livestream by showing her rescue hawk Bean on Twitch.
- A viral clip of Bean in her college house grew viewership overnight and launched ongoing rehabilitation streams that engaged thousands.
Why A No-Visitor Sanctuary Improves Welfare
- Building a sanctuary that nobody visits in person lets animals reach millions via livestream while avoiding visitor stressors.
- Maya argues removing in-person visits eliminates costs like gift shops and parking, focusing funds on animal care and education.
The 21 Hour Stream That Built A Sanctuary
- Maya raised $573,000 in a single 21-hour livestream by agreeing to shave her head if viewers hit a fundraising target.
- She used that haul to buy land in Austin and start building Alveus Sanctuary enclosures funded directly by online supporters.