Photography To Protect Endangered Species: In 2006, Joel Sartore began photographing one animal at a time; 18,000 species later, his Photo Ark has become a global conservation movement fighting to save wildlife from extinction
Photographer Joel Sartore has spent two decades making sure wildlife is seen through his Photo Ark project, which has grown into a global conservation effort to document thousands of animal species and generate worldwide awareness about those in danger of extinction.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Joel Sartore's Photo Ark project has documented 18,000 animal species and become a global conservation movement to save wildlife from extinction. The project aims to make endangered animals visible before they become memories.
Joel Sartore is a photographer who wants to make sure we don't forget about animals that are in danger of disappearing. He takes pictures of one animal at a time, and has taken over 18,000 pictures so far. He hopes that these pictures will help people care about these animals and want to save them.
Analysis
A Global Conservation Movement Born of a Family Crisis
Joel Sartore's Photo Ark project started at a low point in his life. In 2006, his wife Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer, and he was reminded of the work of naturalist John James Audubon, whose paintings documented birds that later vanished. Sartore started to imagine a modern-day version of that record: a portrait of each animal, saved for future generations.
Racing Extinction
There's a race against time behind the striking studio portraits. Animals photographed for the Photo Ark have vanished or have come perilously close to extinction. One of the most poignant examples was Toughie, a Panamanian tree frog who became the last known member of its species. Chytrid fungus, a disease that has caused catastrophic amphibian declines, had devastated the Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog. Toughie's picture became the face of what extinction looks like.
Photos from Conservation Action
The Photo Ark project is more than just a great collection of wildlife portraits. Sartore hopes the photos will generate public interest, funding, and political support for conservation. One example was the Florida grasshopper sparrow, which had dwindled to dangerously low numbers. Sartore's got the shots of the bird after conservationists had trouble drawing enough attention and money to its plight. The publicity that followed helped raise awareness and funding for the species protection efforts, which include captive breeding and genetic conservation.
A Global Crew Behind the Lens
The Photo Ark's success relies on a huge network of conservationists, zoos, researchers, photographers, and animal experts. Sartore's got a family into it big time too. His son Cole brings technical and photographic skills, while his wife helps to handle the project's immense logistical needs. Wildlife experts and taxonomists are also part of the team, and they help to identify species and monitor their conservation status.
Key points
- Joel Sartore's Photo Ark project has documented 18,000 animal species.
- The project aims to make endangered animals visible before they become memories.
- The project relies on a huge network of conservationists, zoos, researchers, photographers, and animal experts.
- The project has already shown the power of photography to take an animal out of obscurity and put it into the public conversation.
The Photo Ark project has already shown the power of photography to take an animal out of obscurity and put it into the public conversation. With continued support, it can help raise awareness and funding for conservation efforts, leading to the recovery of endangered species.
The Photo Ark project faces the challenge of documenting species before they become extinct. The rate of extinction is high, and the project may not be able to keep up with the pace of species loss.
