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.

6,531 species photographed for the Photo Ark
A modern-day Noah

—NBC Nightly News
1 porcupine 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.

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Recent Talks

Picture of a gliding or Spurrell's tree frog (Agalychnis spurrelli) at the Saint Louis Zoo.

A vulnerable sarus crane (Grus antigone) at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, CO.

Picture of a white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) named Gonzo at The Living Desert.

Picture of endangered red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra) at the Miller Park Zoo.

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.

A half-day-old hatchling leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) from the wild in Bioko. This species is listed as critically endangered by IUCN, and federally endangered (US).

Oblong-winged katydids (Amblycorypha oblongifolia) at the Insectarium in New Orleans. These color variants are found in nature, though anything but green is usually eaten by predators immediately. The Insectarium has been a leader in breeding these color variants for display in the zoo community.

Picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, male Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) at the Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad, India.

Photo: An East African crowned crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) at the Kansas City Zoo.

Picture of a great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata) at the Houston Zoo.

A giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at Zoo Atlanta. This endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered species is native to China.

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

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) at the Omaha Zoo.

Picture of an endangered fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) at the Point Defiance 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.

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.

A critically endangered sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX.

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

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

Picture of endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Francois langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) at the Omaha Zoo

Pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) at the Great Plains Zoo.

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

A West Usambara two-horned chameleon (Kinyongia multituberculata) at the Houston Zoo.

Endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

Albino eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) at the Columbus Zoo

Picture of a vulnerable adult female white bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) with her baby, part of Pangolin Conservation, a non-profit organization in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Photo: With one of the world's largest migratory routes, the red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) finds itself especially susceptible to any disruption in its feeding areas along the way.

Photo: A pair of blue poison dart frogs (Dendrobates azureus) at Reptile Gardens.

A vulnerable black and rufous elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi) named Beast, at the Omaha Zoo.

Picture of a Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis) at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) at the Omaha Zoo.

A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered red wolf (Canis rufus gregoryi) at the Great Plains Zoo.

Photo: An emerald swallowtail (Papilio palinurus) at the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans.

Joel Sartore News

See the Animals from “Rare” on PBS

Here are some of the amazing animals featured in RARE: Creatures of the Photo Ark, airing July 2017 on PBS. I hope that my photographs will help people fall in love with the animals I capture, and realize that these rare species tie directly back into their own lives. Animals Featured in Episode 3 Missed Episode…

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