Success stories about Yukon wolves, Canada's Indiana Jones, mammoths on the move, plus much more

OTTAWA, March 6, 2018 /CNW/ - Want to feel better about the world we live in? The March/April issue of Canadian Geographic is packed with inspiring stories about environmental comebacks, citizen science discoveries and Canadians having a positive impact both at home and on the world stage.

"The March/April 2018 issue of Canadian Geographic is a collection showcasing the best of what we do, from the cover story on wolves in the Yukon to unveiling the amazing work of a Canadian archeologist in a foreign nation to documenting the monumental move of Edmonton's Royal Alberta Museum and much more," says Aaron Kylie, editor-in-chief for the Canadian Geographic.

Across North America, it's become rare to hear the spine-tingling howls of wolves, but that's not the case in Canada's Yukon. Eva Holland, a writer from Whitehorse, explains how the territory has found a way to live in harmony with this top predator. Photography by Peter Mather offers a unique look at these reclusive creatures. Adult wolves may be camera shy, but his candid shots of wolf cubs are priceless.

Increasingly, we're learning more about our natural world thanks to the work of citizen scientists. Vancouver's Sarah Hewitt tells how Peter Sherrington, an oil patch worker and nature enthusiast, happened to notice golden eagles flying north every few minutes in Kananaskis Country one day. Over the course of four days, he counted 400 of the raptors. This observation spawned a new career path for Sherrington, who founded the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation. Today, the foundation coordinates thousands of volunteers to learn more about the migratory habits of 24,000 golden eagles that fly through Alberta each spring and fall.

And then there's the story of Hinton, Alta., which is repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells in a move that promises good things for the environment and the municipality's bottom line. The small town is using the wells to tap into water with temperatures between 70 C and 175 C, located five kilometers underground. They plan to use the thermal energy to heat public buildings and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

If you like a good mystery, consider this: scattered across a far-off plain in Laos are hundreds of large stone jars that are thought to be thousands of years old. What is the purpose of these jars? Who put them there? Enter Dougald O'Reilly, Canada's Indiana Jones, who is considered the rock star of archeology in this part of the world. O'Reilly could be the man to solve the mystery of these ancient vessels and help protect them by advocating for their World Heritage status.

Finally, for fans of stunning Canadian photography, this issue features the winning shots from Canadian Geographic's 32^nd annual photo competition. The photos are an inspiration and encourage a deeper appreciation of how lucky we are to live in this scenic corner of the world.

Text from this issue, and select photography, illustrations and maps, are available for reprint upon request. 

SOURCE Royal Canadian Geographical Society