WEBVTT

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Hawaii is home to diverse and fragile

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ecosystems . Although Hawaiian wildlife

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is beautifully rich with a rainbow of

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life , many native species fight a

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silent battle facing the growing threat

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from invasive species . Each year ,

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thousands of military personnel and

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their families including pets , pcs

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that means permanent change of station

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to and from Hawaii families prepare for

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the move . However , sometimes their

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pets fall through the cracks . Pet

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owners may discover their pets are

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unable to travel or perhaps their next

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destination has certain restrictions on

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pet ownership all too often when pets

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are abandoned cause a ripple of waves

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felt throughout the Hawaiian ecosystem .

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Unless we plan ahead , it's a choice

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that can have devastating effects on

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the family , the pet and the

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environment . We have a number of

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species that are only found in Hawaii ,

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which is what endemic means only found

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here . We also have a number of

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threatened and endangered species . So

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introducing a new predator or a new

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competitor would be very problematic in

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Hawaii . Hawaii would be very sensitive

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to that the way you think of an

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ecosystem , especially in Hawaii . Over

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years and years and years , over

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millions of years , every species fills

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a specific role within that ecosystem

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um to kind of have that harmonious

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balance . And so then once we start

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introducing new things that can out

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compete our native species , even if it

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was a coral , it might end up taking

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over and killing our native corals . Of

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course , things happen , things change .

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And sometimes you take that pet with

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you . There are a number of rescue

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groups that you can reach out to .

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There are humane societies that you can

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surrender them to . We really just want

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to make sure people aren't releasing

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their pets when they realize that they

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don't feel like they have other options .

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There are people who are out there able

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and willing to help you .