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National Geographic The Photo Ark

Animals of Earth

Contributions by Sy Montgomery
Hardcover (Paper-over-Board, no jacket)
$45.00 US
10.15"W x 10.15"H x 1.39"D   | 80 oz | 6 per carton
On sale Jul 14, 2026 | 464 Pages | 9781426224881

additional book photo
additional book photo
An expanded edition of this animal photography bestseller, with 64 more pages, 127 new photos, and 20 new essays by beloved writer Sy Montgomery.

Celebrating the 20th year of the author’s lifelong project to photograph every species in human care—in zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and private collections—around the world.

Joel Sartore and his Photo Ark project are becoming household names, beloved by young and old for the up-close-and-personal portraits from every realm of the animal kingdom. To celebrate the Photo Ark’s 20th anniversary, this enhanced edition brings new life to the book that started it all.

Here are the best of the best, arranged into the amusing pairings for which Sartore’s Photo Ark books are known, with new Conservation Heroes, new looks Behind the Scenes, and 20 all-new essays by best-selling animal whisperer Sy Montgomery.

For animal, nature, and photography lovers—even those who own the first edition of this title—the 20th anniversary Photo Ark will be a beloved volume to pore over for years to come.
“This is one of the most scientifically important—and artistically brilliant—books ever.  I don’t know of any other book that has such power. You cannot see these sensitive portraits of the diversity of animals living on Planet Earth and not be entranced. And moved. And inspired to do all you can to ensure they stay with us. Joel Sartore is an ambassador extraordinaire for the beleaguered animals of our planet and should receive a Nobel Prize. No one can look at these sensitive portraits of the incredible animal beings and not be amazed and inspired to do all in our power to preserve them—all of them, all the complex tapestry of life—for our children and theirs. I can think of no other book with such a compelling message: We must each do all that we can to preserve these incredible beings—all of them.  And we must act now, or it will be too late for most of them.”—Jane Goodall
 
“Joel Sartore’s The Photo Ark is a magnificent, awe-inspiring, encyclopedic, and forward-looking book. It surely will be game-changer for getting people to connect or to reconnect with other animals and the various landscapes that serve as their homes—to ‘rewild’ their heart—and to become deeply re-enchanted with the remarkable, fascinating, and diverse beings with whom we share our wondrous planet. I shall share it widely with a broad audience, including youngsters, who are the ambassadors for our and other animals’ future. I hope this spectacular work of art enjoys a global audience, and I honestly don't see how it won’t. It is that good.”—Marc Bekoff
 
“We owe it to these animals, as they struggle for survival on a human-dominated planet, to look them in the eye. Joel Sartore’s awestruck and awe-inspiring photos make that an experience of deep heart and beauty.”—David Quammen, author of Spillover and The Heartbeat of the Wild

“We love them. We are exterminating them. We have no idea most of them even exist. Every painting of Noah’s Ark shows those familiar few animals we all agree seem worthy of salvation. Elephants, giraffes...but every one of them—and most others on Earth—are in fact in mortal danger now. Their flood is us. Yet when expecting new human life we paint animals on our nursery walls. We don’t paint computers or work cubicles. We paint animals, our subconscious, hope-filled wish to greet our unborn child by saying, ‘Welcome into this life-filled world. We are not alone. We have wondrous company.’ It’s time we met those splendid souls with whom we are failing to share our planet, whom we are annihilating. Joel Sartore’s stunning images are powerful enough to make us all ask and answer the question: ‘What will I do?’”  — Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel
Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer and explorer, is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year-long documentary project dedicated to animal conservation by creating portraits of all species in human care around the world. To date Sartore has photographed more than 17,000 species. Over the years, Sartore’s books—including The Photo Ark, Birds of the Photo Ark, Photo Ark Vanishing, and Photo Ark Wonders—have proven top sellers in the nature photography category. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, Kathy; their three children live nearby and often accompany Sartore on his photo shoots around the world. View titles by Joel Sartore

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo

About

An expanded edition of this animal photography bestseller, with 64 more pages, 127 new photos, and 20 new essays by beloved writer Sy Montgomery.

Celebrating the 20th year of the author’s lifelong project to photograph every species in human care—in zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and private collections—around the world.

Joel Sartore and his Photo Ark project are becoming household names, beloved by young and old for the up-close-and-personal portraits from every realm of the animal kingdom. To celebrate the Photo Ark’s 20th anniversary, this enhanced edition brings new life to the book that started it all.

Here are the best of the best, arranged into the amusing pairings for which Sartore’s Photo Ark books are known, with new Conservation Heroes, new looks Behind the Scenes, and 20 all-new essays by best-selling animal whisperer Sy Montgomery.

For animal, nature, and photography lovers—even those who own the first edition of this title—the 20th anniversary Photo Ark will be a beloved volume to pore over for years to come.

Praise

“This is one of the most scientifically important—and artistically brilliant—books ever.  I don’t know of any other book that has such power. You cannot see these sensitive portraits of the diversity of animals living on Planet Earth and not be entranced. And moved. And inspired to do all you can to ensure they stay with us. Joel Sartore is an ambassador extraordinaire for the beleaguered animals of our planet and should receive a Nobel Prize. No one can look at these sensitive portraits of the incredible animal beings and not be amazed and inspired to do all in our power to preserve them—all of them, all the complex tapestry of life—for our children and theirs. I can think of no other book with such a compelling message: We must each do all that we can to preserve these incredible beings—all of them.  And we must act now, or it will be too late for most of them.”—Jane Goodall
 
“Joel Sartore’s The Photo Ark is a magnificent, awe-inspiring, encyclopedic, and forward-looking book. It surely will be game-changer for getting people to connect or to reconnect with other animals and the various landscapes that serve as their homes—to ‘rewild’ their heart—and to become deeply re-enchanted with the remarkable, fascinating, and diverse beings with whom we share our wondrous planet. I shall share it widely with a broad audience, including youngsters, who are the ambassadors for our and other animals’ future. I hope this spectacular work of art enjoys a global audience, and I honestly don't see how it won’t. It is that good.”—Marc Bekoff
 
“We owe it to these animals, as they struggle for survival on a human-dominated planet, to look them in the eye. Joel Sartore’s awestruck and awe-inspiring photos make that an experience of deep heart and beauty.”—David Quammen, author of Spillover and The Heartbeat of the Wild

“We love them. We are exterminating them. We have no idea most of them even exist. Every painting of Noah’s Ark shows those familiar few animals we all agree seem worthy of salvation. Elephants, giraffes...but every one of them—and most others on Earth—are in fact in mortal danger now. Their flood is us. Yet when expecting new human life we paint animals on our nursery walls. We don’t paint computers or work cubicles. We paint animals, our subconscious, hope-filled wish to greet our unborn child by saying, ‘Welcome into this life-filled world. We are not alone. We have wondrous company.’ It’s time we met those splendid souls with whom we are failing to share our planet, whom we are annihilating. Joel Sartore’s stunning images are powerful enough to make us all ask and answer the question: ‘What will I do?’”  — Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words; What Animals Think and Feel

Author

Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer and explorer, is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year-long documentary project dedicated to animal conservation by creating portraits of all species in human care around the world. To date Sartore has photographed more than 17,000 species. Over the years, Sartore’s books—including The Photo Ark, Birds of the Photo Ark, Photo Ark Vanishing, and Photo Ark Wonders—have proven top sellers in the nature photography category. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, Kathy; their three children live nearby and often accompany Sartore on his photo shoots around the world. View titles by Joel Sartore

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