Animals Up Close

Photographer Joel Sartore is on a mission. He wants to take photos of all 12,000 animal species in zoos and aquariums around the world. He travels thousands of miles to do this. He’s photographed everything from a tiny tiger beetle to an enormous elephant.

Sartore is trying to draw attention to a big problem. Worldwide, a growing number of animals are becoming endangered. That means they’re at risk of dying out. Some species have already disappeared completely. They’re now considered extinct.

Joel Sartore is a photographer. He is on a mission. He wants to take photos of all 12,000 animal species in zoos and aquariums around the world. He travels thousands of miles to do this. He’s photographed everything from a tiny tiger beetle to an enormous elephant.

Sartore is trying to draw attention to a big problem. Worldwide, a growing number of animals are becoming endangered. That means they’re at risk. They might die out. Some species have already disappeared completely. They’re now considered extinct.

Humans are the main reason so many species are struggling. People are cutting down forests where animals live. They’re also releasing pollution that warms the planet. This changes many habitats, which makes it more difficult for the plants and animals that live there to survive.

Sartore hopes that governments will pass more laws to protect endangered species. But you can make a difference too. By recycling and using less energy, you can help reduce pollution and keep habitats from being destroyed.

Since 2006, Sartore has photographed more than 8,000 species. He thinks it will take him at least 10 years to photograph the rest. But he’s determined to keep going. “I hope people are moved to learn about the animals they most connect to,” he says. “Only then will they take action to save them.”

Many species are struggling because of humans. People cut down forests. That’s where many animals live. People are also doing things that release pollution. This warms the planet. Then this changes many habitats for plants and animals. It makes it more difficult for them to survive.

Sartore hopes that governments will pass more laws to protect endangered species. But you can make a difference too. You can recycle and use less energy. This helps reduce pollution. It also keeps habitats from being destroyed.

Sartore has photographed more than 8,000 species. He has done this since 2006. He thinks it will take him at least 10 years to photograph the rest. But he’s determined to keep going. “I hope people are moved to learn about the animals,” he says. “Only then will they take action to save them.”