Joel Sartore Joel Sartore

National Geographic Photographer and Speaker

Keyword: Release

Photo: A female, critically endangered Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is released into an enclosure at the Suzhou Zoo in China.

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A female, critically endangered Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is released into an enclosure at the Suzhou Zoo in China. Both Yangtze turtles held at this facility are over 100 years old, if biologist can’t get this species to breed soon, the species will become extinct.

Photo: A female, critically endangered Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is released into an enclosure at the Suzhou Zoo in China.

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A female, critically endangered Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is released into an enclosure at the Suzhou Zoo in China. Both Yangtze turtles held at this facility are over 100 years old, if biologist can’t get this species to breed soon, the species will become extinct.

A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, is released back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

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A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, is released back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, is released back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

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A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, is released back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

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A federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

A banding crew researches the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, before releasing it back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

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A banding crew researches the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis, before releasing it back into the wild. This bird is down to about 2,000 individuals and declining, with nearly all found within Everglades National Park in south Florida.

Photo: Volunteers give oxygen to a tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus) before releasing it at dockside in the Boca Grande tarpon fishing tournament, where the purse is $165 ,000.

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Volunteers give oxygen to a tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus) before releasing it at dockside in the Boca Grande tarpon fishing tournament, where the purse is $165 ,000.

A red knot (Calidris canutus) is released into the wild.

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A red knot (Calidris canutus) is released into the wild.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Photo: An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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An annual sea turtle release is conducted among the tourists of Xcaret resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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

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

Photo: A lesser prairie chicken is released back into the wild after a biologist has fitted it with a radio collar and leg bands in Laverne, Oklahoma.

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A lesser prairie chicken is released back into the wild after a biologist has fitted it with a radio collar and leg bands in Laverne, Oklahoma.

A vulnerable (IUCN) lesser prairie chicken is released back into the wild after a biologist has fitted it with a radio collar and leg bands in Laverne, Oklahoma.

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A vulnerable (IUCN) lesser prairie chicken is released back into the wild after a biologist has fitted it with a radio collar and leg bands in Laverne, Oklahoma.

Photo: Biologists relocate a tranquilized red wolf (endangered) near Manteo, North Carolina.

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Biologists relocate a tranquilized red wolf (endangered) near Manteo, North Carolina.

Photo: A black-footed ferret release at the U.L. Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.

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A black-footed ferret release at the U.L. Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.

Photo: A gray wolf is prepared for reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park.

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A gray wolf is prepared for reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park.

Photo: For fear she and her pack might harm cattle, Opal was captured and collared by USFWS workers.

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For fear she and her pack might harm cattle, Opal was captured and collared by USFWS workers. She was then released as a “Judas wolf” — once she lead the workers back to her pack, they were all exterminated. (Montana, outside of Yellowstone.)

Photo: For fear she and her pack might harm cattle, Opal was captured and collared by USFWS workers.

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For fear she and her pack might harm cattle, Opal was captured and collared by USFWS workers. She was then released as a “Judas wolf” — once she lead the workers back to her pack, they were all exterminated. (Montana, outside of Yellowstone.)

Photo: A red wolf (endangered) trots its way back into the wild after being caught too close to humans and relocated by biologists.

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A red wolf (endangered) trots its way back into the wild after being caught too close to humans and relocated by biologists.

Photo: A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

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A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

Photo: A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

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A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

Photo: A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

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A captive gray wolf in an acclimation pen shortly before its release into Yellowstone National Park.

A juvenile California condor, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

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A juvenile California condor, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

A juvenile California condor, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered(IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

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A juvenile California condor, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered(IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus), critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered; recently released into the wild.

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat'l Forest)

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat’l Forest)

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat'l Forest)

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat’l Forest)

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat'l Forest)

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat’l Forest)

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat'l Forest)

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat’l Forest)

Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat'l Forest)

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Juvenile California condors, (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, recently released into the wild, feed on a calf that was left for them by biologists. (Los Padres Nat’l Forest)

Photo: Julie Jensen Director of Marketing | WVC O: 866.800.7326 | D: 702.443.9249 | E: j.jensen@wvc.org

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