Young acutus crocodile are pictured at Panagator, a sustainable crocodile farm, on the outskirts of Panama City September 11, 2015. Gladys Vallarino, owner of the farm and of a specialty boutique shop selling items made from crocodiles, says the farm looks after more than 19,000 Acutus and Fuscus species of crocodiles and donates five percent of its crocodiles annually to the Panamanian authorities to be put into the wild, in accordance with the regulations of the CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species). The handmade fashion items sell for $200 to $3,000. (Photo by Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

An injured vulture is treated at the VulPro Vulture Rehabilitation Centre in Hartebeepoortdam in the Magalisburg region on September 15, 2015. Confined to southern Africa, just under 4,000 breeding pairs of Cape Vultures remain in the wild, mostly in South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana. Unless conservation efforts are successful, Africa's largest vulture species may be facing eventual extinction. (Photo by Mujahid Safodien/AFP Photo)

In this photo provided by the RSPCA/Australian Capital Territory, an overgrown sheep found in Australian scrubland is prepared to be shorn in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, September 3, 2015. The wild, castrated merino ram named Chris, yielded 40 kilograms (89 pounds) of wool – the equivalent of 30 sweaters – and sheded almost half his body weight. (Photo by RSPCA ACTvia AP Photo)

In this Tuesday, February 11, 2014, photo, a trained monkey, that makes a living for her Pakistani owner by performing to a crowd in public and private places, sits held by a leash, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. For Pakistanis who raise and train the monkeys they are an important source of income in an impoverished country, and they form a strong bond with the animals. The monkeys are usually captured in the wild when they are babies and then trained. A trained monkey can fetch 20,000 to 30,000 rupees ($190 to $285). (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press)

Ukraine's Ruslana performs her song Wild Dance ands wins the Eurovision Song Contest on May 15, 2004 at the Abdi Ipekci Stadium, in Istanbul, Turkey. The event – hosted by last year's winners Turkey – also celebrates the 30th Anniversary of ABBA's win. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

These talented turtles have been "snapped" performing for the camera as they practice their synchronized swimming routine. Photographed underwater by Monste Grillo, 36, from Tenerife, Spain, the turtles are seen swimming in unison as well as touching fins as they circle towards the surface. After spending hours in the water off the coast of the Canary Islands in 2012, the photographs capture the gentle nature of the creatures as well as giving a fascinating glimpse into their behavior in the wild. (CATERS NEWS)

Tim Laman is a field biologist and wildlife photojournalist. His pioneering research in the rain forest canopy in Borneo led to a PhD from Harvard and his first National Geographic article in 1997. Since then, he has pursued his passion for exploring wild places and documenting little-known and endangered wildlife by becoming a regular contributor to National Geographic. He has eighteen articles to his credit to date, all of which have had a conservation message. Some have focused on endangered species such as Orangutans or Hornbills, while others, such as a series of articles on Conservation International’s Biodiversity Hotspots, have highlighted regions under intense pressure.

During work hours on one of the busiest streets of Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, parking attendant Rafael Veyisov wipes off the dust on cars with his fingers, slowly contouring the shapes of tall buildings and flying birds. In his artwork, he generally illustrates real towns to educate people about other countries, but sometimes he also lets his imagination run wild and produces impressive original works. Surprised by his talent, the car owners who regularly leave their vehicles in Rafael’s care, often leave them dirty just to give him an excuse to play around, and take photos of his beautiful artworks.