The state last week reminded residents that native species existed before humans in Hawaii, and most are found nowhere else in the world. Many are threatened or endangered due to predation, disease and habitat loss.

That’s the theme of a new full-color flyer created by the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, which is available for download at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/feeding.

The back of the flyer notes that “protecting our native species is a shared kuleana.”

It includes tips on how everyone can kokua our native animal neighbors:

Know your neighbors — native birds and mammals;

Don’t feed wildlife, and don’t leave food for other animals;

Landowners can help by knowing the law;

And respect native species by giving aloha from a distance.

The flyer is going out first to large property owners and community members in the Waikoloa area of Hawaii Island, where the feeding of feral cats — one of the primary predators of native forest birds — has attracted nene.

“The flyer is intended to provide accurate and current information about protecting native animals, including the nene; this is the department’s mission,” said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang.

Also featured on the flyer is the ‘Ilioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal), which often haul out on the beach in Lahaina to take a nap.

DLNR encourages landowners and community members across the state to post the flyer and embrace the protection of native species.