Visual record of endangered species National Geographic's "Photo Ark" exhibition, now on display in Seoul, opens with a stark warning: Time is running out for many of Earth's wondrous creatures. The ongoing project, helmed by photographer Joel Sartore since 2006, is a global initiative that has captured more than 15,000 species in human care. The exhibition turns out to be a powerful equalizing force.
A tiny mantis commands the same frame size as a towering elephant, each shot against a stark black or white background that strips away everything but the essential details of each endangered species -- the delicate scales of a snake, the surprisingly human-like hands of a capuchin monkey, the penetrating gaze of a Bengal tiger. Perhaps most striking is how each animal faces the camera head-on, eyes locking with viewers in an intimate connection that's hard to miss. This visual dialogue drives home the exhibition's central message, displayed prominently on one wall: "Look these animals in the eye.
You see we're not so different." With thousands of endangered species captured in this ongoing chronicle, from the tiniest insects to the most majestic mammals, the Photo Ark stands as both an ode to Earth's biodiversity and a poignant reminder of what we stand to lose -- and why it matters. "Photo Ark" runs through April 20, 2025.
The admission fee is 15,000 won for adults, 12,000 won for children. Shoot your shot Located within the Mokdong Sports Complex in Seoul, Mokdong Shooting Ra.
