In this edition: Concrete memories, grief science, captive cats, relentless pain, and myth meets reality.
The Narwhal
Posted inEditor's Pick
Inside the Strange, Fragile World of Keeping Exotic Cats as Pets
“As of May 2026, you can no longer buy or sell exotic cats in British Columbia. What do we do with them all now?”
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week we’re recommending stories by Andrew R. Chow, Jonathan Blake, Maurice Tamman, Laura Gottesdiener, and Stephen Eisenhammer, Drew Anderson, and Ben Buckland.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Big Life — and Looming Death — of a Rocky Mountain Defender
“He says that experience left him with a different understanding of his work and its purpose.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Remembering Bob the Elk: What the Life and Death of a B.C. Town’s Beloved Neighbour Can Teach Us
“The story unravelled before me like a true-crime mystery, nature edition.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘Scared Into Silence’: Former Workers Allege Abuse, Safety Issues at B.C. Environmental Organization
“Breathtaking photos. Adventurous boat trips. A mission to save the planet. Young people were drawn to Pacific Wild, but many describe a work culture of bullying and harassment.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Plovers Quarrel: A Tiny, Endangered Bird Returns to Sauble Beach to Find Sunbathers Dug Into the Sand
After a 30-year absence, the plover, a tiny bird, returned to touristy Sauble Beach on the Ontario Peninsula. Now, the town’s residents are arguing over what the beach should be — and how both humans and these endangered birds can share the sand. Pristine white sand is the preferred backdrop for sunbathing, picnics, sandcastles and […]