A Paradise Lost

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The true story of Palila v. Hawaii, a daring case where nature took humanity to court to stave off extinction in the Extinction Capital of the World. The tale unfolds through the eyes of an unlikely protagonist; the taxidermied Palila who stood as Lead Plaintiff at the courtroom in 1979. Spearheaded by a scientist-activist, Palila's legal challengers used the nascent Endangered Species Act to save about 2,500 Palila. Brought to life by Hawaiian voice actor Kaipo Schwab and vivid animation, the bird reflects on their journey as a symbol for dozens of endangered Hawaiian birds struggling for their right to exist. Forty years on, their battle intensifies amidst escalating threats of climate change, wildfires, alien predators, diseases, feral livestock, and governmental neglect. An indigenous Hawaiian conservationist leads efforts to recover damaged forests and palila populations, but in 2025, only 200 Palila are left on the slopes of Mauna Kea volcano.