# @natgeosociety on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Db0ggELiITj
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68858323-natgeosociety-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/77b353190a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-09T13:13:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Geographic Society (@natgeosociety) — https://gondola.cc/natgeosociety

## Caption

“For 20 years, I’ve been on a mission to document the world’s biodiversity. So far, I’ve done portraits of over 18,000 different species from around the world, but even two decades in, no two photoshoots are the same.” – JoelSartore, #NatGeoExplorer and founder of the #PhotoArk

“The process begins with our two Photo Ark taxonomists who coordinate with zoos, wildlife centers and sanctuaries around the world to locate animals we still need. Once everything lines up, we plan a trip to go add as many new species as we can. 

Once we arrive, coordinating with zookeepers is essential. They know how to work with their institution’s animals to keep them calm and make the photoshoot as efficient and quick and stress-free as possible. The images get sent back to Photo Ark headquarters where my team cleans up debris like poop and pee to remove distractions and make the images really shine.

It might seem like a lot of time and effort, but it’s worth it every time. Each species is a living work of art, with a story to tell that is hundreds of millions of years in the making at times. By showing the intricate beauty of these creatures, I hope to make the world care enough to save them. Big or small, we love ‘em all.”

## Stats

- **Views:** 942,834
- **Likes:** 21,143
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 76

## Tags

natgeoexplorer, photoark

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