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.

7,000 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.

Book Joel to Speak

Recent Talks

A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered young, female Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana) at the Omaha Zoo.

A vulnerable male African lion (Panthera leo krugeri) named Mr. Big at the Omaha Zoo.

A St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis), a federally endangered rodent, in Panama City, FL. This and several other beach mice subspecies are imperiled due to beach development. (US: Endangered)

Malaysian horned leaf frog (Megophrys nasuta) from a private collection.

A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally-endangered clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) at the Houston Zoo. The population trend of the clouded leopard is decreasing with less than 10,000 in the wild.

Sara, the endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered whooping crane (Grus americana), at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species. This is an educational bird.

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

A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered, nine-week-old clouded leopard cub (Neofelis nebulosa) at the Columbus Zoo.

Picture of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) from a private collection in the Dominican Republic.

Picture of a row of critically endangered ploughshare tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) at Zoo Atlanta.

Two vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered white-naped cranes (Antigone vipio) at the Columbus Zoo, Columbus, Ohio.

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

Picture of an Arizona tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum) at the St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri.

Picture of an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) with babies.

Photo: A red celestial eye, a fancy breed of goldfish at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.

Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris exalbidus) at the Miller Park Zoo.

Picture of a flock of scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas.

Desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii) at the Omaha Zoo.

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

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

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

A federally endangered gray wolf (Canis lupus) at the New York State Zoo in Watertown, NY.

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. Overfishing of horseshoe crabs along the eastern coast of the US has taken away a much-needed source of energy for the species. (US: Candidate for listing)

A kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) named Frankie at The Living Desert.

Picture of a federally endangered jaguar (Panthera onca) at the Omaha Zoo.

A vulnerable pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) at the Omaha Zoo.

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

Picture of three fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) at the Saint Louis Zoo.

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

An ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) at the Omaha Zoo.

An endangered Indian rhinoceros female with calf (Rhinoceros unicornis) at the Fort Worth Zoo.

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

Joel Sartore News

Leadbeater’s Possum Becomes National Geographic Photo Ark’s 7,000th Species

With this image of the Leadbeater’s possum at Zoos Victoria, the Photo Ark has surpassed the 7,000 species milestone. This adorable marsupial was missing in action for more than 50 years before being rediscovered in 1961. The tiny possums are speedy and feisty, and, with estimates as low as 50 for the Lowland population, their status…

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