A few years back, I had the chance to photograph Bryn, one of two Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits left on this planet — the very last of her kind. It was a solemn occasion because she didn’t have long to live. The rest had already disappeared after farming consumed their unique habitat in Washington state. And indeed, she died shortly after the pictures were taken. Unfortunately, her story isn’t all that unusual. She is one of 68 endangered species that I photographed for a project documenting some of the rarest animals on the planet. These animals are on a fast track to oblivion, but they’re just a few of the 100 or so species that go extinct every day. Plants and animals that we don’t even know to exist are routinely vanishing.
During the past 20 years, I have had the privilege and the responsibility to travel and photograph the world as a contributor to National Geographic magazine. My goal is to bridge the gap between humans and the natural world, a disconnect that exists only in our minds. It’s frustrating that so many of us seem to care a lot more about the Kardashians’ not-so-private lives than what’s happening to our planet — because what happens to the natural world matters so much more than tabloid gossip.
It is beyond belief that what is going on in the halls of Congress right now has received so little attention. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is using a bill that provides vital funding for the federal government to block protections for endangered wildlife. Dubbed the “Extinction Rider,” this provision would put a freeze on adding new imperiled animals and plants to the list of endangered species — thwarting any chance of stopping their extinction.
In my years in the field, I have photographed thousands of animals and learned so much about their important roles in the balance of nature. I have made it a point to focus on those that are the closest to extinction — species of frogs, toads and other amphibians, half of which are predicted to disappear within the next 10 years. Their loss will, in varying ways, be felt by us all.
Amphibians, for example, eat a lot of insects, which helps keep the pests out of our homes, backyards and crops. When they’re gone, we’ll need to spray more toxic pesticides to keep the hoards at bay. Other living beings, including mussels, are also on their way out. Besides providing food for humans, otters and muskrats, mussels are also great filters that improve our water quality. Wild animals and plants are not just interesting and beautiful, they can also be critical to our own survival; more than one rare species has been found to hold many medicinal properties and saved thousands of lives. But most species are failing because their habitats are being chewed up to make room for people.
Nearly 40 years ago, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect the diversity of wildlife we have on this planet. This law is one of the few tools that is making a difference. Thanks to the ESA, the bald eagle has recovered, as have the peregrine falcon and the American alligator, and we’ve prevented hundreds more from going extinct. But many others are still in trouble and need our country’s continued commitment to survive. By backtracking on our pledge to the wild ones, we will also hurt ourselves. It’s a folly to think that we — as animals ourselves — can let the rest of the world go to hell and be just fine. We’re all part of the same web of life, from the lowliest lichen to greatest grizzly.
If Congress passes the “Extinction Rider,” this will prove disastrous for the many species that need our help, and the costs will be extraordinary for all Americans.
Joel Sartore has been a photographer at National Geographic for two decades.
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