Joel Sartore Spent 20 Years Photographing Animals,…

Joel Sartore Spent 20 Years Photographing Animals, Here Are 31 Of His Best Shots

Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Joel Sartore has spent the past 20 years photographing animals around the world, but his goal goes beyond creating beautiful wildlife portraits. In 2006, he started the National Geographic Photo Ark, a project dedicated to documenting species living in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries and using photography to encourage people to care about and protect them.

Since then, Sartore has photographed various species across more than 60 countries, getting up close with animals of all shapes and sizes. His portraits give each species the same attention, whether it’s a tiny frog, a colorful bird, or one of the world’s most vulnerable animals.

The project recently marked two major milestones – its 20th anniversary and 18,000th species – with Sartore continuing his mission to document the incredible variety of life on our planet.

Below, we’ve gathered some of the photographer’s best shots, featuring animals that are fascinating, unusual, and sometimes almost impossible to believe are real. Scroll down to take a closer look at the species he has captured through the Photo Ark.

More info: joelsartore.com | Instagram | Facebook | youtube.com

Joel Sartore Spent 20 Years Photographing Animals, Here Are 31 Of His Best Shots

Joel Sartore and frill necked lizard

#1 Koalas

Joel Sartore with Serval

#2 Coquerel's Sifaka

Joel Sartore with Serval

#3 Female Snowy Owl

Joel Sartore with Serval

#4 Florida Panther

Joel Sartore with Serval

#5 Victoria Crowned Pigeon

Joel Sartore with Serval

#6 Ribboned Pipefish

Joel Sartore with Serval

#7 Bornean Orangutans

Joel Sartore with Serval

#8 Octopus

Joel Sartore with Serval

#9 African Leopard

Joel Sartore with Serval

#10 A Lesser Superb Bird-Of-Paradise (Lophorina Minor)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#11 Female Red Handfish

Joel Sartore with Serval

#12 Veiled Chameleon

Joel Sartore with Serval

#13 Orange Spotted Filefish

Joel Sartore with Serval

#14 Springbok Mantis

Joel Sartore with Serval

#15 Sierra Nevada Ensatina Salamander

Joel Sartore with Serval

#16 Sant Vincent Parrot

Joel Sartore with Serval

#17 Brazilian Rainbow Boa

Joel Sartore with Serval

#18 Male Arctic Fox

Joel Sartore with Serval

#19 Bobtail Squid

Joel Sartore with Serval

#20 Eastern Parotia (Parotia Helenae)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#21 The Magnificent Bird-Of-Paradise (Diphyllodes Magnificus)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#22 The Trumpet Manucode (Phonygammus Keraudrenii)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#23 West African Slender-Snouted Crocodile

Joel Sartore with Serval

#24 A Lesser Bird-Of-Paradise (Paradisaea Minor)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#25 Raggiana Bird-Of-Paradise (Paradisaea Raggiana)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#26 The Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris Magnificus)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#27 Red Eyed Tree Frog

Joel Sartore with Serval

#28 A King Bird-Of-Paradise (Diphyllodes Regius)

Joel Sartore with Serval

#29 Elegant Harlequin Frog

Joel Sartore with Serval

#30 Longnose Harlequin Frog

Joel Sartore with Serval

#31 Coyne’s Harlequin Frog

Joel Sartore with Serval