Maui bird conservationist fights off wildfire to save rare, near extinct Hawaiian species

• The center houses about 40 ‘akikiki — a native songbird with only about five known to remain there — and about 40 ‘alalā, also known as the Hawaiian crow, which are extinct in the wild.

Amidst the heartbreaking darkness caused by devastating Maui wildfires, efforts made by one endangered Hawaiian bird conservationist and a neighbor to fight off flames which threatened nearly extinct species provide some glimmer of hope.

With around 80 birds enclosed in an effort to prevent their extinction, the Maui Bird Conservation Center, one of two in Hawaii managed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, aims to protect the islands’ native birds. To ensure the birds’ protection in disasters such as this one, Emily Senninger, a spokeswoman for the zoo, told New York Times' Catrin Einhorn that the only other members of these species live at the center’s sister facility on the Big Island.

Jennifer Pribble, who lives at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, quickly sprang into action to help save the rare species from the wildfire after a neighbor woke her with the news, she recounted to the New York Times. The wildfire — which has become the deadliest U.S. wildfire for over a century — came within about 150 feet from the edge of the center’s 46-acre property.

"In that moment, our instincts kicked in and we knew what we had to do. The goal was to keep the fire from spreading toward the aviaries," Pribble said in a statement to USA Today. "We appreciate the work of the neighbor who jumped in, and the firefighters who have been out front keeping the fire at bay so we can continue to focus on the birds.”

The entire team at the Maui Forest Bird Conservation Center are also safe, the zoo added.

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Watch video of the critical moment that helped protect these endangered Hawaiian birds.

Pribble, who serves as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Senior Research Coordinator in Recovery Ecology, used multiple fire extinguishers and a garden hose to fend off the flames until firefighters arrived about 40 minutes later, according to the New York Times. She contacted the forest manager for assistance amid the chaos, too.

“The sky was orange and there was smoke in the air, like out in the forest,” Pribble said. “I’m just in shock that all this happened.” 

As part of their program, the Recovery Ecology team has collected eggs from the wild of two species housed in the center, ‘akikiki and ‘alalā, to initiate breeding populations "with the goal of releasing birds into the wilderness in the future and saving these species from extinction," according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The zoo said the conservation center is safe for now, although they have not been able to assess all damages.

"The strong winds have caused damage across the entire facility which required the team to evacuate some birds into other shelters," the zoo said.

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The zoo encourages people who want to donate to do so with the Maui Strong Fund, Senninger said.

Read more coverage from USA TODAY on how to help victims of the wildfires here: 'Help is pouring in': How to assist victims in the Maui wildfires in Hawaii