Photo: “Nahanni Window” by subarcticmike via flickr.
The wildlife of our planet is a precious resource that, unfortunately, is facing challenging circumstances due to human mismanagement.
However, the grizzlies, caribou, and many other species in Northern Canada have a reason to smile thanks to a step taken in the right direction in a northern park named Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories.
One of Canada’s most prized and beautiful national sanctuaries, it currently occupies a space of 4,800 square km. Government officials have announced plans to enlarge it to over six times its size – more than 30,000 square km.
Avid outdoor enthusiasts also have a reason to smile. The South Nahanni River is purportedly one of the top paddling rivers in Canada. The boundaries of the expansion will also include the highest mountains and largest ice fields found in the Northwest Territories. The area is world-renowned for activities such as mountaineering, backpacking and rafting.
Really, we all have a reason to smile. Protecting this pristine wilderness means preservation of a natural gem for future generations. It also means survival of habitat for hundreds of grizzlies, two herds of woodland caribou, and many alpine sheep and goats. And it ensures that the beauty and purity of this region remain intact.
