What exactly is a national park, and what purpose does it serve? The first one, Yellowstone National Park, in the state of Wyoming, was created in 1872 in the United States. Since then, many have been opened on every continent. In France, there are seven national parks, three of which are in the alpine crescent, which stretches from France to Austria. The first national park in Europe was created in 1914 in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons), Switzerland. Then, in 1922, the Gran Paradiso National Park, in Italy, was opened. Other national parks in the alpine crescent include Berchtesgaden, in Germany; Hohe Tauern, in Austria; Stelvio, in Italy; and Triglav, in Slovenia. The first national park in France was Vanoise, created in 1963.

The primary objective of national parks is to protect natural flora and fauna. It must also be noted that there are many other parks without national status that have exactly the same goal. Among these are the Vercors Regional Park, in France, and the Karwendel Reserve, in Austria. However, national parks have a special status that confers a certain authority upon their guards. They are authorized to fine those who do not follow park rules.

Does this mean that the guards are nothing more than park policemen? No, of course not. Guards will show you where, for instance, a herd of chamois may have  just passed by, leaving their tracks in the newly fallen snow. He might point out the way the hooves left their imprint. Thus, in addition to preserving the natural balance in the park, the guards’ role is to inform and teach.

        

Nature’s Rich Menagerie
You might come across chamois capering on the névés, fields of granular snow. Or, perhaps, marmots frolicking on the scree slopes. Some of these marmots are remarkably tame, approaching hikers, in hopes of receiving a treat.
                 
                                                          

Herds of ibex live in some alpine parks. They are most numerous in Gran Paradiso Park, in Italy. Thay can also be seen at Mercantour. This southerly alpine park is rich in animal life. Mouflons, a type of wild sheep, roam freely, and wolves have reappeared in recent years. However, visitors need not worry, since the wolves rarely venture near the footpaths and they shy away from humans. In the past, bears also roamed the Swiss Alps, but the last one seen there was killed in 1904. In Western Europe brown bears can now be found in the Pyrenees, on the border of France and Spain; in the Cantabrian Mountains, in northern Spain; and in Abruzzi National Park, in central Italy. On the other hand, you can sometimes hear a stag bellowing in the Swiss National Park, where they are numerous.

Apart from the larger animals, however, there are plenty of smaller animals to delight the visitor, such as ermines and varying hares, which turn white in winter, as well as foxes, marmots, and squirrels. Additionally, myriads of insects, including magnificent butterflies and industrious ants, inhabit these regions. Bird lovers will certainly not be disappointed. You may catch sight of an eagle soaring high above your head or even, in the Swiss National Park and in Vanoise and Mercantour parks, a lammergeier, or bearded vulture. It is also quite common to hear the characteristic sound of a woodpecker’s beak striking the trunk of a tree in search of insects. Many ask how these mountain dwellers survive the winter in the Alps. These animals are well adapted to this environment, although harsh conditions do eliminate the sick and the aged.

Alpine Flora
Even the plants are protected in the parks. Consequently, it is forbidden to pick the flowers, including the magnificent orange lilies, which border paths. Perhaps you wonder why. Some plants—such as the famous edelweiss, the alpine anemone, the alpine rose, the mountain bluet, and some varieties of gentian—are rare, and it is vital to protect them to ensure their survival. The variety of flowers is truly impressive.