The National Geographic Photo Ark is a travelling exhibition of photographer Joel Sartore’s quest to create a photo archive of biodiversity around the world. So far, Sartore has captured studio portraits of more than 6,000 species – a number that he hopes to double. On 1 July, the ark will open at Melbourne zoo – the first time it has been exhibited in the southern hemisphere. More than 50 portraits will be on display, including many of Australian endangered animals being protected by programs at the zoo itself. These captions have been edited from text supplied by Melbourne zoo. Here: Barking owl. (Photo by Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark/The Guardian)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) is welcomed by the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola ahead of a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, 03 November 2022. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A man participates in the Pacu Jawi, a traditional bull race, at Nagari Labuah, in Tanah Datar of West Sumatra, Indonesia, on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Yorri Farli/Xinhua News Agency/Alamy Live News)

Ballerina Kira Hilli of the Netherlands National Ballet dances in a tutu with a diameter of 3 meters for a video made for the 1.5 meter society, on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 04 June 2020 (issued on 12 June 2020). The so-called social distance tutu is made of denim fabric, specially made for the Safe Distance Ballet. (Photo by Remko de Waal/EPA/EFE)

(L-R) American actress Alexandra Shipp and American model Paris Jackson attend The Elizabeth Taylor Ball To End AIDS at West Hollywood Park on September 15, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

A participant in wingsuit flies above Tianmen Mountain at Zhangjiajie Scenic Spot during the 4th Red Bull WWL China Grand Prix on October 16, 2015 in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province of China. The 4th Red Bull WWL China Grand Prix will last three days from October 16-18 in Zhangjiajie. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

Mud Madness at the annual Jaffa Cakes charity three-mile run at Foymore Lodge near Portadown this afternoon, on April 13, 2014. A total of a thousand competitors and fun-runners took part in the two races held over the mudstrewn endurance course. (Photo by Alan Lewis/Photopress Belfast)

Visitors look at tropical fish transported from Japan's southern island of Okinawa displayed in a giant 14-ton fish tank at the Sony Square event space in Tokyo on July 17, 2016. The 45-day-long summer exhibition will be held through August 28 to display sea creatures common to the waters around Okinawa. (Photo by Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP Photo)