National parks protect wildlife from many human threats but face growing pressures from tourism, climate change, and surrounding land use. Understanding park welfare functions and limitations guides advocacy.
National parks provide critical welfare benefits for wildlife through protection from hunting, habitat destruction, and direct human disturbance. However, these protections are incomplete - tourism disturbs wildlife within parks, poaching affects even well-protected areas, and climate change forces species beyond existing boundaries. The most effective park welfare strategies combine strong protection with connectivity to allow animal movement as conditions change. Tourism management that minimizes disturbance - through vehicle limits, seasonal restrictions, and buffer zones - protects the welfare value of parks for resident wildlife. Supporting well-funded, well-governed national parks with strong connectivity is a high-impact wildlife welfare investment.