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 person looks at Australian artist Ron Muecks large-scale installation “Mass” which comprises more than 100 hand-cast skulls that collectively weigh approximately 5000 kilograms at an exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne on May 18, 2022. (Photo by William West/AFP Photo)

Germany's Angelique Kerber reacts after popping a bottle of champagne, a day following her win in the final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament, at the Government House in Melbourne, Australia, January 31, 2016. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters)

Activists from the animal rights group PETA, wearing bikinis and crocodile masks, stand outside a store of the French fashion label Hermes in Melbourne on March 16, 2021, to protest against their use of crocodile skins and the recent purchases by Hermes and LVMH of crocodile farms in Australia's Northern Territory. (Photo by William West/AFP Photo)

Poland's Adrian Meronk, left, celebrates with his partner Melania Bobrowicz during the Australian Open golf championship at Victoria golf course in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, December 4, 2022. (Photo by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo)

Australia's State Emergency Service (SES) personnel gather at the scene of a light plane crash near the Capital Golf Course, in Melbourne, Australia, 22 June 2021. A pilot was injured and rushed to hospital after his light plane crashed shortly after taking off from Moorabbin Airport. (Photo by James Ross/EPA/EFE)

Serena Williams of the U.S. serves during her first round match against Italy's Camila Giorgi at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 18, 2016. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Reuters)

A woman inspects artwork by Iranian artist Farrokh Mahdavi during a preview of the National Gallery of Victoria's (NGV) Triennial 2023, an exhibition featuring work by over 120 contemporary artists, designers and collectives, in Melbourne on December 1, 2023. (Photo by William West/AFP Photo)