Striking National Geographic photos show animals that could disappear from the face of the Earth

Amanda KrauseMay 15, 2020, 23:03 IST

A Diademed sifaka photographed at Lemuria Land in Madagascar.Joel Sartore

Joel Sartore is a National Geographic photographer who documents endangered species through a project called The Photo Ark.
Since 2005, Sartore has photographed 10,000 species for the project, creating a database of over 34,122 photos.
The photos can also be found in Sartore's book, "The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World's Most Vulnerable Animals," which features species that are most likely to disappear.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Wildlife numbers are rapidly decreasing around the world, with up to one million species facing extinction in the coming decades.

Few people likely understand this better than Joel Sartore, a wildlife photographer who primarily works with National Geographic. Since 2005, Sartore has been traveling around the world to photograph every species that currently lives under human care. He's documented 10,000 creatures so far.

Satore's book, "The Photo Ark Vanishing: The World's Most Vulnerable Animals," as well as the October 2019 issue of National Geographic, features some of his work. Here's a look inside.

Read the original article on Insider

These photos and others were also featured in the October 2019 issue of National Geographic.

The October 2019 issue of National Geographic. National Geographic

Many of Sartore's images have been compiled into books.

An endangered green sea turtle photographed at the XCaret Resort in Mexico. Joel Sartore

Some species in Sartore's project no longer exist in the wild.

A female South China tiger at the Suzhou Zoo in China. Joel Sartore

Species like the Grevy's zebra currently have populations smaller than 2,000.

A Grevy’s zebra at the at the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari. Joel Sartore

Others reside lower on the IUCN's red list — though their populations are still threatened.

A 29-year-old Asian elephant named Billy at the LA Zoo in California. Joel Sartore

Many of the species Sartore photographs are critically endangered.

A Sumatran orangutan named Pongo abelii at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure in Kansas. Joel Sartore

It's unlikely that you've heard of every animal documented in The Photo Ark series.

A Diademed sifaka photographed at Lemuria Land in Madagascar. Joel Sartore

Others, however, don't typically receive as much attention.

An endangered African white-backed vulture at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Joel Sartore

Some animals seen in The Photo Ark are beloved by people around the world.

Twin red-panda cubs at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska. Joel Sartore

Each animal is photographed in front of a black or white background.

An endangered Peruvian woolly monkey in Manaus, Brazil. Joel Sartore

Sartore has documented species both big and small.

Harapan, a four-year-old Sumatran rhino, at the White Oak Conservation Center. Joel Sartore

Joel Sartore has been photographing endangered species since 2005.

Joel Sartore in 2018. Rodin Eckenroth/Stringer/Getty Images

Take a look inside the Hamptons mansion that an NYC businessman, who's fleeing the city because of the coronavirus, is renting for nearly $2 million for the summer

Cookies on the Business Insider India website