Florida Everglades National Park is the largest American park east of the Mississippi River and one of the largest protected wetland areas in the world.  A fragile area, it is home to both land and marine species, as well as hundreds of species of birds.  Located between the densely populated coastal areas of Florida, it is one of the most visited parks in the United States, … [Read more...]

South Dakota Custer State Park is, from a wildlife standpoint, sort of a junior Yellowstone.  While much of the fauna is similar, it covers a much smaller area, making wildlife viewing here just as rewarding an experience.  Home to many species, Custer is most famous for three of its residents: its private herd of just over a thousand Buffalo, its flamboyant herd of Begging … [Read more...]

Wyoming Yellowstone National Park is arguably the largest and best wildlife preserves in the continental United States, and one of the finest in the Americas.  Known primarily for its amazing geological features, Yellowstone is equally known for its fauna, which is represented by almost every major mammal species native to the U.S. and Canada.  It is particularly beloved as … [Read more...]

Alaska Denali National Park is the titan of America’s national park system.  This immense reserves in the heart of Alaska is home to one of the best preserved wilderness areas anywhere, with a variety of wildlife rivaling Yellowstone and the Canadian parks of Alberta.  One of the most remote areas in North America, virtually all native wildlife still roam freely here, … [Read more...]

Canada Wapusk National Park is a large park at the heart of an immense wilderness area along the shores of Hudson Bay.  This area, nicknamed the Polar Bear capital of the world, is one of the premier destinations in North America for viewing the magnificent snow-white bears and other Sub-Arctic wildlife.  Although ecotourism is growing here, it is still a low-profile and … [Read more...]

Canada Wood Buffalo National Park is a magnificent wildlife reserve that despite its immense size stands somewhat in the shadow of more famous parks further south in Alberta.  However, it boasts some animal species that are not easily found elsewhere, notably its large herd of Wood Buffalo, one of the rarest and most threatened of Bison species. The northern end of Alberta, … [Read more...]

Canada Banff National Park is the jewel of the Canadian national park system.  Part of a chain of parks and wildlife reserves located in the Rocky Mountains, it is one of the most visited outdoor sites in North America.  Located in an area between the great American parks of the Continental West and Alaska, Banff incorporates the best of both, in terms of both scenery and … [Read more...]

Japan Jigokudani Monkey Park, part of the Joshinetsu National Park, is an extremely popular primate reserve in Northern Japan.  It is the most famous residence of the Japanese Macaques, or Snow Monkeys, the northernmost native primate species on the planet.  Jigokudani skyrocketed to international fame in 1998 thanks to the Winter Olympic Games that were hosted in nearby … [Read more...]

South Korea The Korean Peninsula possesses one of most unusual, and arguably the most unintentional, wildlife reserve of all time: the famous Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ for short.  Created in the armistice that suspended the Korean War, this strip of frontier land between the north and south has been effectively devoid of people since the early 1950s.  As a result, it became a … [Read more...]

China Wolong Nature Reserve is one of the most popular wildlife parks in China, and thanks to its most popular residents, one of the most beloved anywhere.  Located in the very heart of this vast nation, Wolong is home to many of China’s native species.  But one animal easily tops them all: the Giant Panda.  Although the total population is relatively small, it is still one of … [Read more...]