The National Geographic Society, a global non-profit and leading creator of live events, experiences, and travelling exhibitions, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Geographic Photo Ark programme with a newly curated travelling show that highlights the power of photography in the fight against species extinction.
This features exciting, colourful, and varied highlights from National Geographic Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore's extraordinary photo archive of global biodiversity. The 20th anniversary show will include a customised section of species native to the host venue's region.
The installation of The National Geographic Photo Ark at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in Tokyo, JapanCredit: Kenichi Kurosaki
The National Geographic Photo Ark is a multi-year initiative to raise awareness of, and find solutions to, some of the most critical issues affecting wildlife and their habitats.
In its effort to photograph every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries, the project is inspiring action through education and helping to protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation activities.
Photographing the world's biodiversity
Sartore began the National Geographic Photo Ark in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, in August 2006. Since then, he has travelled the world in his mission to create a photo archive of global biodiversity featuring portraits of more than 25,000 species of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
So far, Sartore has documented over 17,000 species and captured the beauty and fragility of Earth’s biodiversity.
Once completed, the Photo Ark will offer a vital record of each animal’s existence and serve as a testament to the importance of their protection. Every animal is treated with the same amount of care and respect, resulting in images that are stunningly beautiful, intimate, and compelling.
"It’s the eye contact that moves people," says Sartore. "It engages their feelings of compassion and a desire to help."
Joel Sartore with frill necked lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii, at a high school in Victoria, Australia, 2017. Photo by Douglas Gimesy.
The Photo Ark educates visitors of all ages about the Earth's amazing biodiversity and promotes a meaningful connection with its wildlife.
Students in the classroom are engaged through free educational materials and activities, while the public is engaged by special exhibitions, books, TV specials, features in National Geographic magazine, and events worldwide.
Additionally, an interactive digital experience enables people to engage with Photo Ark content on the National Geographic Society's website, learn about animals in the collection, and share information about at-risk species using social media.
Photo Ark's imagery will also have a new home at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, set to open on 26 June 2026.
Photo Ark: Animals of Earth, which took first place in the Exhibit - Animals category at the blooloop Innovation Awards 2025, will be the first exhibition to go on show in the Exhibition Gallery at the Museum of Exploration, enabling guests to immerse themselves in spectacular images of animals from across the globe.
Large-scale projections, engaging photographs, and touch and sensor-driven interactives will share an incredible story and allow guests to interact with the species featured in the Photo Ark like never before.
Supporting wildlife conservation
Estimates place over one million species worldwide at risk of extinction, so there is no better time to take action and empower others to protect our world’s biodiversity.
As such, the Photo Ark launched the Photo Ark Species Impact Initiative in 2023 to further its support for on-the-ground conservation initiatives.
The Species Impact Initiative provides funding and strategic communications support to help protect at-risk species by raising the profiles of conservationists, their work, and their focal species.
The first grant was awarded to National Geographic Explorer and president, chair and founder of the Institute for Regional Conservation, George Gann.
He works to protect the federally endangered Miami tiger beetle and Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak butterfly, among numerous other threatened and endangered species, and the pine rocklands habitat in southern Florida.
In its second year, a grant was awarded to National Geographic Explorer and wildlife biologist David Sischo to launch the Snail Ark project. This focuses on protecting three snail species endemic to the island of Oahu, Hawaii, that are among the rarest animals in the world and are either extinct or near-extinct in the wild.
Joel Sartore photographs Johnny the serval, Leptailurus serval, at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Nebraska, 2018. Photo by Cole Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark.
A third Species Impact Initiative grant was awarded to National Geographic Explorer Luis A. Coloma. Coloma is a leading amphibian biologist committed to protecting and reviving endangered frog species in Ecuador.
Together with his team, he aims to develop an international model for amphibian recovery to inform other conservation practitioners in restoring and reintroducing endangered species to their native habitats.
Last month, The National Geographic Society announced that The Greatest Wildlife Photographs will continue to tour following its run at The Momentary in Arkansas, US.
