Who is Maya Higa? All about streamer as MrBeast donates $50k to her Alveus Sanctuary

Maya Higa is an educator, wildlife rehabilitator and streamer who has created an interesting path by merging live-streaming with animal conservation. Maya is the Founder of Alveus Sanctuary, a non-profit sanctuary for animals that cannot be released back into the wild. Alveus Sanctuary operates in-person and virtually through live-stream to educate others about animals and the threats to their existence.

Recently reported by the media, MrBeast made a $50,000 donation to Alveus Sanctuary in a larger effort that he is making to help rescue and foster animals. This gives respect to Maya's work and to Alveus Sanctuary's intentions.

Maya Higa's early life, streaming and setting up Alveus Sanctuary

Maya Higa began streaming in 2019, originally focusing on singing and music, then branching into animals and wildlife education. Her interest in animals and conservation grew alongside her streaming career. She became a licensed falconer and wildlife rehabilitator, bringing live animals and unique educational content to her audience.

In February 2021, Maya Higa founded Alveus Sanctuary. Through a 21-hour live-streamed fundraising event, she raised over $500,000 to launch the sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in Texas and serves as a home for non-releasable exotic animals and as a center for online education.

Alveus streams 24/7, shares content about its animal "ambassadors," and uses the reach of platforms like Twitch, YouTube and Instagram to raise awareness. Over the years, Maya Higa has grown both in streaming presence and in her conservation role.

Alveus Sanctuary, the role of donations & the MrBeast gift

Alveus Sanctuary is a non-profit organization run by Maya Higa that provides permanent homes to animals that cannot return to the wild. The sanctuary uses online live-streams and videos to involve viewers and build a community. That community helps support the animals and the educational work. For example, in 2024, the platform Twitch donated $100,000 to Alveus during its TwitchCon event.

More recently, it was noted that MrBeast donated $50,000 to Alveus Sanctuary to help after flood damage in Texas and to support new enclosures and animals.

This donation is significant because it brings attention to Alveus and Maya’s work. It shows how large creators are supporting her mission of wildlife conservation, combined with digital reach. For the sanctuary, it means more funds to support infrastructure, animal care, habitat improvements and educational programming.

The donation also reflects the model Maya is using: blending creator culture, live platforms and real-world conservation. With large gifts and streaming community support, Alveus is able to scale its operations, reach more people, and help more animals.

Why Maya Higa's work is unique & what comes next?

Maya Higa's work stands out because she uses a new channel, streaming and online presence, to support conservation, rather than relying only on traditional institutions. Her approach lets younger audiences engage with wildlife, understand species issues and make informed choices. It is a model where a creator can build a sanctuary, share it live, and raise funds directly from an audience.

For Alveus, the work continues. The sanctuary has faced challenges, like flooding damaged infrastructure, the road to the property was washed out, and animal care costs remain high. Maya and her team have called for donations and community support to rebuild and maintain operations.

Looking ahead, Alveus is launching its "Research & Recovery Institute" and has announced expansion of its conservation programs. With the support from creators like MrBeast and platforms like Twitch, the sanctuary may grow further, house more species, produce more educational content and strengthen its conservation impact.

Maya Higa stands as an example of how a digital creator can move from streaming to real-world impact. The donation from MrBeast helps amplify that story and signals that large-scale support for creator-led conservation is possible.

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