You don’t need to catch a flight across the ocean to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s most majestic animals. The United States has many wildlife reserves that hold not only extant American wildlife, but also wildlife that has gone extinct in the wild. Here are three of the best wildlife preserve the United States has to offer.
1. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Found on Virginia’s Assateague Island, over 130 wild Chincoteague ponies run free in one of the nation’s most unique wildlife preserves. These Chincoteague ponies directly descend from Spanish ponies that escaped sinking ships during the 15th and 16th centuries. Nature tours are offered from late spring until mid-fall, allowing visitors to observe the herd in their natural habitat. Every July, Chincoteague holds its famous pony swim where the ponies are brought across the channel in order to auction them off, thus preventing the island herd from growing to an unsustainable number.
2. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Located only 30 miles northeast of San Diego, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park spans over 1,800 acres of protected land and holds over 500 species of animals, with over 2,600 animals in total. World-class breeders work at this wildlife preserve to breed species that are about to go extinct. Species that have been saved here include the Arabian oryx, the Caribbean iguana, the California condor, and the Guam rail. Visitors can experience a safari via a tram car, catching glimpses of buffalo, rhinos, zebras, and ostriches. The park also includes elephant keeper demonstrations, bird shows, and a pair of young Sumatran tiger cubs.
3. The National Bison Range
The National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as an effort to save the world’s dwindling bison population. At the time, less than 100 bison were thought to currently exist. The National Bison Range is an 18,500 acre wildlife preserve featuring forests, ponds, and grasslands, replete with a gorgeous mountain backdrop that makes it perfect for photographs. Visitors can drive their car through one of the two available automobile tours or take a 19-mile hike up the mountain over the course of two hours. During these trails you will be able to observe the herd of 350-500 bison, in addition to a wide variety of birds, deer, sheep, coyotes, and antelope.
If you’re interested in other wildlife preserves and national parks, take a look at: Obama Administration Establishes 5 New National Monuments or The Difference Between National Monuments and National Parks.
Featured Image from Hilary Halliwell/Unsplash
