National parks serve as wildlife reserves for a number of animal and plant species. This allows native ecosystems to remain intact, minimizing human impact on the animals and their environment.
By preserving native species of animals, national parks help native ecosystems thrive. In much of the country, invasive species have devastated native ecosystems, but national parks attempt to restore the balance of native plants, animals and other organisms.
Many threatened or endangered species find a home in national parks. Ideally, their numbers begin to grow and they contribute to the ecosystem of the park. They keep other predators in check, provide nourishment for other at-risk species, or fulfill any number of other important functions.
Wild animals often act as "mascots" for their habitats, inspiring people to preserve the ecosystem as a whole. Humans identify with and admire animals that we see as "cute," like bear cubs, or "beautiful," like elk, giving us the motivation to preserve native habitats.
Visiting wildlife in national parks gives us a chance to see animals in their natural habitat, while learning about the ecosystem in which they live. When immersed in this ecosystem, we often can learn far more than we would at a zoo.
When we explore national parks, it can help us to remember our own role in the ecosystem and feel more connected with the rest of nature. And as Richard Louv says in "Last Child in the Woods," spending time in nature can keep us more physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy.
Sometimes animals stray from park boundaries, since they have no awareness of these boundaries. Some people have raised concerns about this, but organizations such as the Buffalo Field Campaign and Defenders of Wildlife say these animals have had little negative impact on humans or livestock.
