On April 14, Maya Higa created history by becoming the first Twitch streamer to deliver a TED talk, even receiving a standing ovation at the end. But who is she, and what work has she done to get her noticed and invited to speak at one of the most coveted conferences globally?
Streams Charts explores Maya Higa's journey from a gaming/variety streamer to one of the most passionate wildlife educators today.
Who is Maya Higa?
Maya Higa is an American veterinarian, conservationist, and popular content creator known for her work in wildlife rehabilitation and education. Born in 1998, she grew up on a farm in Northern California as the youngest of four siblings, attending California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and graduating with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and communication in June 2020.
Maya started streaming on Twitch in 2019 at her friends' insistence, as they saw a clip of her singing on Instagram and wanted their friend to get more comfortable singing in front of people. Maya originally livestreamed in the music category on the purple platform and did mainly singing content.
As a licensed falconer and wildlife rehabilitator, she soon started using her early broadcasts to educate viewers on the importance of raptors and biodiversity. This "educational-lifestyle" hybrid was the seed that eventually grew into a non-profit empire, even earning her the moniker "the Bird Girl of Twitch."
Beyond streaming, Maya Higa has dedicated her time to wildlife conservation, rewilding projects, and advocating for endangered species. She is particularly recognized for her efforts in rehabilitating injured wildlife and her advocacy against the exotic pet trade.
In terms of her social media presence, Maya has 993K Twitch followers, 1.41 million combined subscribers across her YouTube channels (1.16 million on her main channel) and 448K followers on X (formerly Twitter).
How did Maya Higa become famous?
In February 2021, the 27-year-old made a decision that would change her career and perceptions about how the streaming industry can impact society. She hosted a 21-hour marathon fundraiser to build Alveus Sanctuary, a non-profit exotic animal sanctuary and virtual education center in Austin, Texas.
The event was a historic success, raising over $573,000 in a single day. This wasn't just influencer money; it was a community-driven mandate to build a permanent home for non-releasable animal ambassadors. It also acted as a coming-out party, turning her into an instant global online celebrity.
What is Alveus Sanctuary?
Alveus Sanctuary, claimed to be the "World's First Virtual Zoo," operates as a non-profit with a revolutionary mission: using the internet to provide "emotional proximity" to nature. Each resident at Alveus has a story and a specific conservation message.
Unlike traditional sanctuaries, the Alveus Sanctuary is not open to the public. Instead, it is "visited" via 24/7 live cameras on Twitch and YouTube. This allows millions of people to build a connection with animals without causing the stress that physical tourism can bring.
How well has Maya Higa done on livestreaming?
As mentioned above, Maya began her career on Twitch before also creating a YouTube channel. She has been more on the Amazon-owned service, where she is nearing 1 million followers. Her most popular broadcast hit 92,813 Peak Viewers (PV) during a Halloween fundraising exercise for Alveus Sanctuary in October 2021.
Her main YouTube channel, Maya, only has a handful of streams. Interestingly, its most popular broadcast is the watchalong of the release of her TED Talk video from May 12, which peaked at 3.1K viewers.
Alveus Sanctuary also has Twitch and YouTube channels, with the former boasting 389K followers. It has also been among the 50 most-watched channels on Twitch for the past two years, showing just how popular its content is. The Alveus Sanctuary YouTube channel, meanwhile, has 485K subscribers.
What happened during Maya Higa's 2026 TED Talk?
The culmination of Maya's journey occurred on April 14, 2026, when she took the main stage at TED2026 in Vancouver, Canada. Her talk, "The Wildlife Sanctuary You Can Visit from Anywhere," proved an effective example of how streamers have emerged as a new frontline option in education.
During the TED Talk, Maya revealed that her community has raised over $7.5 million for various conservation causes, pointing to the growing effectiveness and power of "internet creators." She also revealed that her streams generated over 250 million views for educational content in 2025 alone.
At the end of her address, the audience gave her a standing ovation, leaving Maya visibly emotional as she quietly responded by saying, "Thank you." It reiterated the impact that streamers on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick can have in the real world using their communities.
Many hailed this TED as a "legitimacy milestone" for Twitch, as the platform has struggled with its public image regarding "drama" and "low-effort" content for years. Maya's presence on the popular conference's main stage proved that creators can be educators, with many hoping it creates a blueprint for how streamers can drive tangible, real-world impact.
Header image via Maya Higa on X
