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)

Andrew Parkinson, animal behaviour category winner: Crepuscular Contentment, Derbyshire. “In 15 years of working with badgers I’ve never seen a badger sit out in the open to have a scratch. I was sat concealed behind a tree and downwind so it was especially nice that the badger had his back to me, demonstrating just how inconspicuous and inconsequential my presence was”. (Photo by Andrew Parkinson/British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017)

Charlotte Caslick of Australia is tackled by Jasmine Joyce of Wales during the Rugby Sevens Women's Pool B match between Australia and Wales on day nine of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Robina Stadium on April 13, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

A camel is seen in front of the pyramids, which is one of the seven wonders of the world that was visited by 14.9 million tourists last year in Giza, Egypt on February 21, 2024. The pyramids were named after the tombs of fathers, sons and grandsons, including the largest pyramid Cheops (King Khufu), the middle pyramid Khafre (King Khafre) and the small pyramid Menkaure (King Menkaure). (Photo by Utku Ucrak/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Zuo Tong of China performs on floor exercise during the women's team artistic gymnastics event of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Monday, September 25, 2023. China team won the gold. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks past a billboard with a portrait of a Russian soldier and the words “Glory to the heroes of Russia” in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, August 20, 2022. (Photo by Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo)

An Iranian cleric stands near a drone during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 24, 2022. (Photo by Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Rtuters)

Showgirl Amy Findlay after the the rehearsals for Circus Vegas in Newcastle, Britain on July 27, 2023. (Photo by Lee Smith/Reuters)