Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark
A koala, Phascolarctos cinereus adustus, with her babies at Australia Zoo Wildlife ​Hospital,2011.
Project The interaction between animals and their environment is critical to keeping the planet we call home healthy. But for many species, time is running out. The elimination of one impacts us all. National Geographic's Photo Ark is a multi-year effort to raise awareness and find solutions to some of the most pressing problems affecting wildlife and their habitats. Founded by Joel Sartore - National Geographic Explorer, photographer and 2018 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year - the project aims to document all species living in the world's zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education and help save wildlife by supporting conservation efforts on the ground.
Sartore is a National Geographic Explorer, public speaker, author, educator, conservationist and regular contributor to National Geographic magazine.
National Geographic Photo Ark
Portrait of Joel Sartore, 2021, by Ellen Sartore.
JOEL SARTORE
In 2006, world-renowned photographer Joel Sartore founded National Geographic Photo Ark with the goal of documenting all species living under human care, inspiring action through education, and helping to save wildlife by supporting conservation efforts on the ground. For more than 15 years he has traveled to zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries around the world in an effort to create a photographic archive of global biodiversity. Sartore is a National Geographic Explorer, public speaker, author, educator, conservationist and regular contributor to National Geographic magazine. In 2018 he was named Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year.
Sartore has produced several books, including Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom, RARE: Portraits of America's Endangered Species, Photographing Your Family, The Photo Ark, Animal Ark, and The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World's Most Vulnerable Animals.
In addition to his work for National Geographic, Sartore has contributed to Audubon magazine, Life, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and numerous book projects. Sartore and his work have been the subject of numerous national broadcasts, including National Geographic's Explorer, NBC Nightly News, NPR's Weekend Edition, Fresh Air with Terry Gross and the PBS documentary series, Rare: Portraits of the Photo Ark. He is also a regular contributor to CBS's Sunday Morning Show.
Sartore's hallmarks are a sense of humor and a Midwestern work ethic. He earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska. He currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife and children.
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Creating portraits of hope Joel Sartore started National Geographic Photo Ark in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, more than 15 years ago. Since then, Sartore, a world-renowned photographer, has traveled the world in an effort to create a photographic archive of global biodiversity, which will contain portraits of more than 20,000 species of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. When completed, the Photographic Ark will be an important record of each animal's existence and a powerful testament to the importance of saving them. Regardless of size, each animal is treated with the same affection and respect. The result is portraits not only of extraordinary beauty, but also intimate and moving. "It's the eye contact that moves people." Sartore explains. "It engages their feelings of compassion and desire to help."