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)

“Don't take the life too serious”. (Photo by David Olkarny)

An climber ascends a silo covered in ice in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States, January 17, 2016. The owners have connected hoses to the top of the silo and spray it with water in winter months to freeze the exterior for climbing. (Photo by Jim Young/Reuters)

Iberian lynx Mistral jumps in a field after being released by Portugal's Minister of Environment Joao Matos Fernandes (unseen) and others in the Mount Milhouro (Herdade da Cela) region in Mertola, Portugal, 13 May 2016. Mistralis the 18th lynx bred in captivity released since late 2014. (Photo by Nuno Veiga/EPA)

Local people check the growth of mussels at a river in Haian County on November 2, 2017 in Nantong, Jiangsu Province of China. Fish, shrimp, crab and mussel farming cleans the river and increases the villagers' income at Haian county in Jiangsu. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

A gallery assistant holds a rare 14th century time-telling device device in Bonhams auction house on December 9, 2011 in London, England. The instrument, which dates from 1396 and was discovered in a shed in Queensland, Australia, is due to be auctioned on December 13, 2011 and is expected to fetch 200,000 GBP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Women in yukatas, or casual summer kimonos, take their selfie in front of paper lanterns during the annual Mitama Festival at the Yasukuni Shrine, where more than 2.4 million war dead are enshrined, in Tokyo, Japan July 13, 2017. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Final match Soccer Humanoid Kid Size between DARwIn vs. AUTMan at the World Championship finals of RoboCup 2013 in Eindhoven (NL). (Photo by Bart van Overbeeke)