YouTube is an online video sharing platform attracting billions of users
from global audiences. Videos containing wildlife are a popular subject,
with such content being a valuable tool for educating on wildlife
initiatives and having the potential to make a meaningful impact on
future conservation. Here we examine the YouTube channel
BraveWilderness. This channel has uploaded 662 videos and recently
surpassed 4 billion views for their wildlife-centric and
conservation-themed content. BraveWilderness shows diverse biodiversity
from a multitude of habitats, and often highlights under-represented
taxa. Successful videos, such as those that go viral, can be examined to
understand what images and messages resonate with a wide audience,
thereby informing conservation practitioners on future outreach efforts.
As internet use continues to expand, and the need for content increases,
scientists can benefit from participating with and directly contributing
to entertaining and educational digital media efforts beyond traditional
means of scientific communication.