Conservation advocate and popular streamer Maya Higa just used her massive platform on TikTok to call out the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) put forward by the Trump administration. Higa urged her viewers to listen up because the administration’s plans could seriously harm wildlife that is already struggling to survive.
In her video, Higa explained that these rules are explicitly designed to roll back crucial protections under the ESA. If these plans go through, oil, gas, logging, and mining companies could basically dictate habitat protection. Higa warned that land, climate, and animal welfare concerns will inevitably take a back seat, “no matter what the costs are to wildlife and to our climate and to our lands.” She didn’t mince words about the situation, saying plainly, “It sucks.”
This proposed rollback is especially frustrating because the ESA is the country’s strongest tool for protecting species at risk. Higa pointed to clear successes, noting that hundreds of species almost went extinct but didn’t because of the ESA. Think about the bald eagle, the black-footed ferret, and the gray wolf. These are, in fact, not African animals, but iconic animals of this land that we’d hate to lose, and the protections need to stay in place to ensure that.
When Higa talks about conservation, you should definitely listen up
Besides being a content creator, Higa is the founder and executive director of Alveus Sanctuary in central Texas. She’s worked as a licensed falconer, a wildlife rehabilitator, a zookeeper, and a conservation educator. Plus, she’s recognized as one of Twitch’s top female streamers, in contrast to some of her more questionable counterparts. You might even remember her from her incredibly viral livestreams featuring Winnie the Cow, who famously began demanding that Twitch viewers donate to give her treats.
Higa’s streams often combine education with major fundraising efforts. For example, her conservation podcast back in 2019 raised over $92,000 for various conservation groups. Her track record shows she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to saving animals.
Higa opened her recent video with a straightforward appeal to her followers. “Hey, guys, I meant to talk to you about this sooner,” she said, explaining that she felt compelled to speak immediately. She stressed that wildlife already has it really, really freaking hard, so threats that make it harder are simply unacceptable.
The good news is that these proposed rules aren’t final yet. Higa strongly encouraged people to take public action right away. We have until December 22 to show that the public overwhelmingly supports protecting wildlife. She framed participation as a simple but incredibly meaningful step, urging people to submit comments through the link in her bio. Asking viewers to participate, she added, “That’s my Christmas present.”
She emphasized that it’s crucial to act now and ensure that this vital piece of legislation continues to protect the animals that need it most.
Published: Dec 23, 2025 04:00 pm