Photographing 12,000 Species of Animals Before They're Extinct

Joel Sartore’s goal is ambitious: document 12,000 species in captivity, many of which are endangered like the female white rhinoceros. These images and more can be found in the April issue of National Geographic.

PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of National Geographic magazine dated April 2016 and exclusively in conjunction thereof. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. Sub-licensing, sale or resale is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption, which makes reference to NGM. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing NGM are subject to paid licensing. Mandatory usage requirements: (Please note: you may select 5 branded images for online use and 3 images for print/unbranded) 1. Include mandatory photo credit with each image © Joel Sartore/National Geographic 2. Show the April cover of National Geographic somewhere in the post (credit: National Geographic) unless using only one image 3. Provide a prominent link to the article at the top of your piece, ahead of the photos 4. Mention that the images are from "the April issue of National Geographic magazine” NORTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROSDVU˚R KRÁLOVÉ ZOO, CZECH REPUBLICThis female named Nabiré was one of the last of her subspecies. She died last summer, a week after this photograph was taken. A few months later another northern white rhino died, leaving only three.

Northern White Rhinoceros at Dvůr Králové Zoo, Czech Republic (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Panther Chameleon at the Dallas World Aquarium (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

North American Porcupine at the Great Plains Zoo, South Dakota (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey at the Houston Zoo. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Curl-crested Aracari at the Dallas World Aquarium. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Green Tree Python at the Riverside Discovery Center, Nebraska. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Bornean Orangutan and A Bornean/Sumatran Orangutan Cross at the Houston Zoo. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Blue-spotted tree monitor (Varanus macraei) at the Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas.

Blue-spotted Tree Monitor at the Gladys Porter Zoo, Texas. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

African White-Bellied Tree Pangolina Baby at Pangolin Conservation in St. Augustine, Florida. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Guianan Cock of the Rock at the Dallas World Aquarium. (Joel Sartore/National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Top row, from left: Waxy Monkey Tree Frog; Hippopotamus; Reimann’s Snake-necked Turtle; Snowy Owl; Malayan Tiger. Bottom row, from left: Brazilian Porcupine; Southern Three-banded Armadillo; Indian Peafowl; Mother and Baby Koalas; Coquerel’s Sifaka. (National Geographic)