The Wildlife within the Park
The Hawai'i National Park is a place where wildlife surrounds you, it's full of endemic birds, endangered turtles, and lots of fascinating flora. These species have been indigenous to Hawaii for about 70 million years, and each species has there own way of living in their environment. Most of the species are descendants of birds, bats, and insects because they were the ones who were able to fly over and make their homes in high places, so no new lava flows wouldn't burn them. The Hawaiian islands are home to about 23 endemic Hawaiian songbirds, which includes six Hawaiian honeycreepers, and three Hawai'i creepers. Hawai'i actually only has one native land mammal called the Hoary Bat because it was able to fly over the ocean, and over the lava, but since Hawai'i was populated by people in the 19th century they have become endangered.
Gallery above:
Left top - Hawaiian Turtle; Right Top - Hawaiian Monk Seal; Left Bottom - Humpback Whale; Right Bottom - Animals in Maui
Left top - Hawaiian Turtle; Right Top - Hawaiian Monk Seal; Left Bottom - Humpback Whale; Right Bottom - Animals in Maui
Even though there are lots of animal species within the park, it holds beautiful plant life which can grow within the endless flows of hardened lava . More than 90% of the states native flora are found only in the Hawaiian islands, and the park harbors the descendants of the first colonizers such as nettles and mint.
All of the plants adapted to a life where there were no plant-eating mammals but once people came to the islands, they brought over pigs, and sheep. But all of this beauty has come at a cost. Hawai'i is currently facing an ecological crisis. Plants that have survived for millennia, are being threatened by alien, invasive plants and lots of wildlife species. Within the park there are 23 endangered vascular plants, including 15 species of endangered trees. Even though these plants are extinct, they all have found a way to survive in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.
All of the plants adapted to a life where there were no plant-eating mammals but once people came to the islands, they brought over pigs, and sheep. But all of this beauty has come at a cost. Hawai'i is currently facing an ecological crisis. Plants that have survived for millennia, are being threatened by alien, invasive plants and lots of wildlife species. Within the park there are 23 endangered vascular plants, including 15 species of endangered trees. Even though these plants are extinct, they all have found a way to survive in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.