Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark Photographer Joel Sartore is surrounded by butterflies in the Sierra Chincua monarch sanctuary. In honor of National Wildlife Day, Sept. 4, we’re

sharing his photos to raise awareness about animals in danger of extinction. World traveler and freelance photographer Joel Sartore, 55, needed an assignment that would allow him to stay

close to home in order to care for his wife Kathy, who was battling breast cancer, and their three children. So he started photographing the animals at the nearby Lincoln (Neb.) Children’s

Zoo. Kathy has since recovered, and Sartore continues his personal mission to visually document every captive animal species on earth. From tiny insects to large carnivores, sea creatures to

because so many truly had no voice of their own in terms of conservation, and that’s what continues to drive me on this project,” Sartore told AARP. After 11 years, the Photo Ark contains

more than 24,000 images representing 6,500 species of animals from the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. Some have become extinct since being photographed. “I use studio lighting and

black and white backgrounds to level the playing field for all species featured in the National Geographic Photo Ark — a mouse is every bit as large and important as an elephant,” he said. 

Sartore believes to know the animals is to save them. “I hope this connection will inspire people to take action and protect these animals before it’s too late.” Learn more about the Photo

Ark at NatGeoPhotoArk.org. * LIST * | * SLIDESHOW * Photos * * * 1 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark CLOSE FAMILY  A family of koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus, at the

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. More than 23,000 species, including koalas, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are threatened with extinction. * * * 2 of

* PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark EYE CONTACT  A red celestial eye goldfish, Carassius auratus auratus, at Ocean Park, Hong Kong. Sartore believes that in the best

images, animals have eye contact with the viewer to create a bond and elicit compassion.  * * * 3 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark MISCHIEVOUS MANDRILL  A portrait

of a captive juvenile mandrill, Mandrillus sphinx. Some animals are shy, while others are rambunctious during their photo shoots, Sartore says.  * * * 4 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National

Geographic Photo Ark COLORFUL CHAMELEON  The eye and face of a veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Kansas.  * * * 5 of * PHOTO BY: Joel

Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark FLAMINGO DANCE A group of American flamingos, Phoenicopterus ruber, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Sartore uses studio lighting and solid

backgrounds to eliminate distractions and allow viewers to see the true beauty and worthiness of the animals. * * * 6 of * ADVERTISEMENT * * * 7 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National

Geographic Photo Ark RARE AND MAJESTIC A male white Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Fifty-nine percent of all the carnivore species weighing 33 pounds or

more are listed as threatened species, according to the National Geographic Photo Ark. * * * 8 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark THE POSTMAN ALWAYS WINGS TWICE A Red

Postman butterfly, Heliconius erato lativitta, at the Saint Louis Zoo. No matter its size, each animal is treated with the same amount of affection and respect in Sartore's photography.

* * * 9 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark NEON LIGHTS  A Spanish shawl nudibranch, Flabellina iodinea, at the Research Experience and Education Facility, at the

University of California, Santa Barbara. Thus far, the Photo Ark contains more than 24,000 images, and Sartore hopes to double that number. * * * 10 of * PHOTO BY: Joel Sartore/National

Geographic Photo Ark FEW REMAINING  A female Northern white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum cottoni, at the Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic. This female, named Nabiré, was one of the last

of her subspecies. She died a week after this photograph was taken. A few months later another northern white rhino died, leaving only three left in the world. _Joel Sartore's book

entitled, _The Photo Ark: One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals_, was published in 2017 by National Geographic Books. Sartore, 55, is also a speaker, author, teacher and

a 25-year contributor to _National Geographic_ magazine and other publications._ ------------------------- YOU MAY ALSO LIKE * 10 international trips that should be on your bucket list *

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