The clock is ticking for many animals – they don’t live that long. Species continue to disappear at alarming rates. It’s hard getting people to care about animals, specifically those that are not considered cute and cuddly. So how do you get people to care or notice? Right now no one is talking about endangered species, everyone is talking about the election or other things going on in the world.
Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer, has put the reach of modern media platforms to work through Photo Ark (a visual Noah’s Ark). The National Geographic Photo Ark is a multiyear effort with Joel Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save them. This multiyear effort creates intimate portraits of 12,000 species. The Photo Ark, once completed, will serve as a record of each animals existence, as well as a powerful testament to the importance of saving them. The Photo Ark uses the power of traditional and social media to create a connection between animals and the people who can help protect them.
Sartore explains how it is hard to get people to pay attention to these endangered species. “We are on our phones all the time, so we are not connected anymore. We need to make things entertaining and fun, that is the goal. We need to get people to engage and care,” Sartore said.
Raj Mody, VP Social Media for National Geographic Partners, explains the social media aspects in getting the word out. “We are using social media to make change,” Mody said. National Geographic believes in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. National Geographic’s social media approach is curiosity, access and fun. “Curiosity is where we reach people and they get access to things they can’t get anywhere else. We make sure the content is timely, relatable or relevant,” Mody said. “The storytelling and visuals from Joel do great things, we are lucky to have a partner like him. Photo Ark is helping our planet and everything that is in it.”
The Photo Ark has saved several species already.