Man on a Mission:
Building the Photo Ark

Book Joel To Speak Explore the Photo Ark

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.

15,325 species photographed for the Photo Ark
A modern-day Noah

—NBC Nightly News
1 porcupine named Piper on the cover of
National Geographic
4 times chased by grizzlies
300 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

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered silvery Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) at the Gibbon Conservation Center.

A picture of a critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Bornean rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni) named Pahu at the Kelian Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia.

Photo: D.J. is an 11-month-old Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Dirgahayu “Ayu” is an 11-month-old federally endangered Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Unfortunately, both species are listed as critically endangered by IUCN, in large part due to the palm oil crisis.

A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic.

A picture of a federally endangered marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata marmorata) at Zoo Taiping.

Photo: Gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) at Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo, Italy.

A picture of a federally endangered Indian rhinoceros female with calf (Rhinoceros unicornis) at the Fort Worth Zoo. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.

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

Picture of a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium.

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered gray gibbon (Hylobates muelleri) at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois. This is being ‘phased out’ at zoos because there are too few in captivity to keep bloodlines vital and the species isn’t showy.

A picture of a pair of four-week-old old federally endangered Asian leopard cats, (Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis). These two were found abandoned by their mother in a burning field and brought to the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), a wildlife rehab center in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Picture of a male Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Picture of a Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic.

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 endangered western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa) at the Houston Zoo.

A picture of a federally endangered New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae) at The Animal Sanctuary, an animal rehab center in Warkworth, New Zealand.

A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, female South China tiger, Panthera tigris amoyensis, at the Suzhou Zoo in China. This is a species that may be gone from the wild now, and as of 2015, there are only 100 in captivity.

A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered four-year-old male Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis) named Harapan at White Oak Conservation Center.

A male common genet (Genetta genetta), named Little Guy at the Conservators center.

A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) named Endora at Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina.

A white-lipped island pit viper (Trimeresurus insularis) at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri) also known as Leadbeater's cockatoo or pink cockatoo, at Parrots in Paradise, a bird attraction in Glass House Mountains, Queensland.

Photo: An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) named Jengo at the Singapore Zoo in Singapore.

A picture of a federally endangered snow leopard (Uncia uncia) at the Miller Park Zoo. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.

Photo: Visayan leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori) at the Avilon Zoo.

A picture of a red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus lineatus) at the Sutton Avian Research Center.

Photo: A Equatorial spitting cobra (Naja sumatrana miolepis) at the Avilon Zoo.

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

A three-month-old baby chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) named Ruben at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. Listed as endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered

A picture of a Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica, at the Omaha Zoo.

A picture of an endangered female Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam.

Joel Sartore News

Spring Sale 2024

Spring is finally upon us, and that means we’re bound to see some new feathered friends, furry neighbors and gardens abuzz with life. With the arrival of the new season comes a breath of fresh air, and our spring print sale! All traditional prints are 25% off, so be sure to use…

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