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)

A bodyboarder rides a wave at Mackenzies Bay on May 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. A strong east-south-east swell has developed along the NSW coastline with waves between 6ft and 8ft expected to hit the coast for much of the weekend and into next week. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A protester uses molotov cocktails against riot police during May Day protests on May 1, 2010 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski /Getty Images)

A group of children run into a fountain on the South Bank on August 1, 2011 in London, England. Temperatures in the capital reached around 27 degress today and are expected to hit 30 degrees by Wednesday. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A sheep dressed in a jersey in the colors of the Colombian national soccer team is seen during a exhibition in Nobsa, Colombia June 1, 2014. The sheep is named Falcao, after the Colombian player. REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez

A baby hippopotamus lies next to its mother on the first day it was presented to the public at the Zoo Berlin zoo on November 1, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. The baby hippo was born at the zoo on October 23. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Fireworks light up the skyline over Sydney Harbour during the midnight fireworks session as Sydney Celebrates New Year's Eve with the theme of “Time To Dream” on on January 1, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)