National Geographic Photo Ark celebrates 18th year with 16,000th photo

The National Geographic Photo Ark has marked 18 years of photographing the planet's species, with its 16,000th photo: a Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum).

The hugely ambitious project was founded by photographer Joel Sartore, and involves all species under human care, of all sizes, rare and common, being photographed without distractions or size comparisons, granting them an equal setting in which to be appreciated for their innate and unique attributes.

National Geographic, which funds the project, says that it is through this photography that the Photo Ark raises public awareness of the global extinction crisis, inspires action through education, and is working to help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.

Photographed by Sartore at the University of California, the salamander represents one of the first species listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act, the precursor to the modern Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Often found in underground burrows in California’s forested uplands and shrublands near their breeding ponds and marshes, these glossy black, yellow speckled amphibians face looming threats from habitat loss and climate change. Their forested habitat is being rapidly converted for agriculture and urban infrastructure.

While population data is unknown for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, the number of breeding populations have greatly declined with some estimates suggesting they have halved from 30 to 16 in the period from 1954 to 2019. Many southern breeding ponds have been completely destroyed and others are only estimated to have 20-30 adults remaining.

The small extant populations have also lost much of their genetic diversity, limiting their ability to adapt to environmental changes and putting them at even greater risk of extinction.

“The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is emblematic not only of the plight of the world’s amphibian species which are facing rapid decline, but also because it represents a species, like so many others, that we can take action to change its future,” said Sartore.

After 18 years of documenting species for the Photo Ark, it has never been more urgent to help tell the story of wildlife and help turn interest into conservation action.”

Globally, amphibians make up the highest proportion of vertebrates threatened with extinction with an estimated 41% at risk. Amphibians play an important role in balancing their ecosystems, controlling insect populations, signaling toxins and pollutants present in the environment, and providing a source of food for other animals.

Their permeable skin makes amphibians highly sensitive to changes in their environment and an essential indicator species of overall ecosystem health.

“There’s no better way to honor the 18th anniversary of the National Geographic Photo Ark than with the announcement of the 16,000th species, the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander,” said Ian Miller, the Society’s Chief Science and Innovation Officer.

“This milestone moment exemplifies what Joel’s nearly two decades of work on the Photo Ark is all about: using the power of storytelling and science to illuminate and protect our planet’s rich biodiversity."