RARE: Creatures of the Photo Ark

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I’m Joel Sartore.

Ever wonder about those wildlife photographers who risk life and limb to get the perfect shot? That’s me. I’ve spent 25 years with National Geographic—and I’ve got the stories and scars to prove it. These days my focus is on the Photo Ark, the world’s largest collection of animal studio portraits. My goal is simple: to get the public to care and save species from extinction.

8000 species photographed for the Photo Ark
A modern-day Noah

—NBC Nightly News
1 porcupine named Piper on the cover of
National Geographic
4 times chased by grizzlies
250 talks given worldwide
2 spitting cobras found in camera gear

Speaking Engagements

“Joel never fails to dazzle.”
Known for his sense of humor and incredible stories from the field, Joel is a popular speaker with conservation, corporate, and civic groups.

Hire him to entertain and inspire your audience.

Book Joel to Speak

Recent Talks

Photo: A kaiser spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) from Conservation Fisheries.

A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally threatened polar bear (Ursus maritimus) at the Tulsa Zoo.

Picture of a vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered, booming Attwater's Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas.

A portrait of a federally endangered peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

Geoffroy's tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

A California quail (Callipepla californica) at Parrots in Paradise, a bird attraction in Glass House Mountains, Queensland.

Picture of critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Edward's pheasants at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, KS.

A male okapi (Okapia johnstoni) at White Oak Conservation Center.

Photo: Hibernating Arctic ground squirrels (Spermopilus parryii) at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

Vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX.

Photo: An endangered mint morph of the terrible poison dart frog (Phyllobates terriblis) from a private collection.

Joel is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year effort to photograph every species in human care around the globe.

Explore the Photo Ark

A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) at the Phoenix Zoo.

Gordon's purple mossy frogs (Theloderma gordoni) play dead at Reptile Gardens.

A critically endangered harlequin frog (Atelopes varius) at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. This species, from Panama, is now thought to be extinct in the wild. With only 300 or so in captivity, it is thought to be one of the rarest amphibians in the world.

Picture of an endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

Photo: Hours-old least tern (Sterna antillarum) chicks sleep as they're photographed near North Bend, Nebraska.

Picture of a flock of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding.

A vulnerable African elephant (Loxodonta africana) at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Picture of a grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) at the Sedgwick County Zoo

An Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure. (IUCN: endangered)

South Georgia king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus) at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). There are only 10 in captivity world wide and are being phased out of zoos.

A short-nosed echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) at the Melbourne Zoo.

Picture of red-sided eclectus parrots or New Guinea eclectus (Eclectus roratus polychloros) at Parrots in Paradise, a bird attraction in Glass House Mountains, Queensland.

Picture of bats, songbirds and a hawk killed by a single wind turbine in a year.

Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) at the Baltimore Aquarium.

Picture of a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) at the Columbus Zoo.

An ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) at the Omaha Zoo.

Picture of a six-day-old Malayan tapir, Tapirus indicus, at the Minnesota Zoo. Endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered

Picture of a Haitian ground boa (Epicrates fordii) from a private collection in the Dominican Republic.

Photo: An American crocodile (Crocodilus acutus) at the Omaha Zoo.

An ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California.

An Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). Also known as harlequin ladybird, multicolored Asian lady beetle and halloween lady beetle.

Joel Sartore News

USA Today Publishes Story About 12 Days of Photo Ark

On December 12th, 2017, USA Today published a story documenting the Photo Ark’s 12 Days of Christmas social media campaign. The Photo Ark project, which aims to document every species living in the world’s zoos and other protected areas before they’re extinct, is releasing one photo a day for 12 days on social media. From koalas to…

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