A dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) at the Sunset Zoo.
National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore goes behind the scenes at zoos and rescue centers in order to capture portraits of endangered animals. He tells NPR: “I’m the only studio portrait photographer I know whose subjects routinely poop and pee on the background right in front of me.”
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) at the Sunset Zoo.
Gray gibbons (Hylobates muelleri) at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois.
Venomous snakes at the Fort Worth Zoo.
The Miller Park Zoo’s bobcat (Lynx rufus).
Half of the world’s plant and animal species will soon be threatened with extinction and this keeps Mr. Sartore busy. With over 1,800 portraits already taken, Mr. Sartore has a goal to photograph 6,000 different animal species total, all of who are on the verge of becoming extinct. See the completed photos and support Mr. Sartore’s Biodiversity Project HERE.
“If you think about the stuff I’m photographing here, it’s mainly ghosts. It’s all ghosts. Just little remnants. Just little bitty pockets of wildlife. That’s all that’s left.” “..for most of my job, it’s just little remnants, little scraps of what used to be. I’m just photographing the last of everything. Whether it’s wolves or grizzly bears or rhinos, jaguars or parrots in South America. It’s the last of everything I’m photographing. It’s really kind of tragic.” [via]
As serious as this all is, there is also a comical side to working with the animals. Not everyone is interested in having their portrait taken, like this chimpanzee here:
Hazina the chimp stuck just her head and arms into the enclosure very slowly and cautiously.
With a single, swift wave of her arm, she ripped the 7-by-12-foot background right off the wall and floor like it was nothing.
She then pulled the entire backdrop through the tiny entrance doorway.
The only shots taken were of her destroying the set.
Moments later, Hazina poked her head back in to survey her handiwork.
