Today, National Geographic commemorates the 10th annual World Rhino Day, which celebrates all five species of rhinos, including the Sumatran rhino, an elusive and highly endangered species featured in the upcoming two-part special, Photo Ark, on Nat Geo WILD on October 17 and 24.
- Photo Ark features the intricate work of Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photographer, Fellow and Founder of the Photo Ark, who has made it his life’s mission to inspire people to save species at risk through the power of photography.
- Sartore has visited more than 50 countries, climbing above the timberline in the Colorado Rockies and traversing the biodiverse Amazonian and Indonesian rainforests to photograph more than 10,000 species living within the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries and making it impossible for people to deny the need to save them.
- With a rainforest scattered across many islands, Indonesia is home to some of the world’s most endangered species, but the ultimate goal of Joel’s journey, featured in Photo Ark, was to photograph Pahu, one of fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the world.
- After more than two years of searching, Pahu was found and brought to the Sumatran Rhino Rescue program to take part of an essential breeding program to save her species.
- Today there are fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the world, living in remote locations across two of Indonesia's largest islands.
- In 2018, an alliance of conservation organizations, including the National Geographic Society, joined together to support a nationwide effort led by the government of Indonesia to bring this species back from the brink of extinction.
- Through Sumatran Rhino Rescue, conservationists are conducting search and rescue operations to bring rhinos together to breed and help ensure a future for this unique species.
- Photo Ark debuts on Nat Geo WILD on October 17 and 24 at 10/9c.