The National Geographic Photo Ark exhibition opened at Siam Paragon in Bangkok on July 17, 2024. Organized by the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, the event highlights the photography of Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer and explorer. The exhibition will be open to visitors until July 29, 2024, at Living Hall on the third floor of Siam Paragon.
Dignitaries from various sectors attended the opening ceremony. In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec said, “This exhibition showcases the unparalleled beauty of our planet’s wildlife and serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect it. This is never more urgent than right now when our planet is losing wildlife faster than at any other time since the disappearance of the dinosaurs.” He added, “Environmental cooperation has long been and continues to be a cornerstone of our bilateral relations. And, as part of our commitment to the environment, we are close allies in wildlife conservation. Agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, work closely with their Thai counterparts to combat wildlife trafficking in Thailand and in neighboring countries. Together, we have pursued initiatives from reducing air pollution to combating climate change. All aimed to preserve our natural heritage for future generations.”
Joel Sartore thanked the U.S. Embassy for its support and spoke about his motivation for creating Photo Ark: “The Photo Ark really exists to get people to look beyond ourselves and to bring these animals to the top of mind and help people realize that even the smallest creatures many think are at the bottom of the food chain, like insects, are what keep the planet stable. My job is to get people to try to engage the way that I know how, which is as a photographer.”
This marks Photo Ark’s first visit to Thailand and features images of animals from around the world—including species native to Thailand and Southeast Asia—curated by creative director Tom Potisit. The event aims both to raise awareness about wildlife conservation and highlight joint efforts between Thailand and United States against cross-border wildlife trafficking.
The exhibition offers educational materials and activities designed for all ages without charge.
As part of broader efforts in 2024, U.S.-Thai collaboration also includes digital campaigns like "Virtual Jungle Thailand" aimed at increasing public awareness about endangered species threats in Thailand through online engagement initiatives provided by organizations such as USAID or INL (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs). Further details on ongoing anti-wildlife trafficking efforts can be found at https://th.usembassy.gov/wildlife.
###