Whether it be a haunting photograph of the nearly extinct Leatherback Turtle, or a breath-taking snapshot of a secret, underground waterfall, National Geographic photographers have always provided us with a direct view of some of the world’s most majestic places and fantastical creatures.

National Geographic Assignment is taking this insight to the next level,by providing behind-the-scenes footage of some of you favorite National Geographic photographs.

David Littschwager’s “One Cubic Foot” video series, in which he explores the the biodiversity found within one cubic foot, Paul Nicklen’s incredible bonding experience with a Leopard Seal and Brian Skerry’s face-off with a 70-ton Right Whale in the deep waters of the Arctic South (as seen above), are just a few of the colorful video clips featured on the National Geographic Assignment video page, which can be viewed here.

photo by Dereck Joubert

Yesterday FMC, the Philadelphia based pesticide manufacturers who produce a product called Furadan, identifiable by its blue granules, banned in the USA and Europe managed to kill 5 lions and a striped hyena in the most sensitive lion area in Kenya. For many months conservationists have been appealing to their better judgement and ethical attitude towards the environment and its wildlife.

We asked them to remove this poison from lion range states but clearly that is not working. There are fewer than 200 Maasai lions left. Today we can scratch 5 more off that roster.
We are mobilizing every effort and force we have to collect as much poison as we can. National Geographic Big Cats initiative is hoping to pay Maasai for any cattle loss and to educate communities to the benefits of lions. Having FMC dig in their heels and not help nearly enough is making our job ten times harder and I fear that in this race against time, we may lose.

photo by Dereck Joubert

photo by Joel Sartore

To keep the red wolf from going extinct, the US Fish and Wildlife Service captured the remaining wild ones in the 1970s and started a captive breeding program. The 14 founding wolves kept their race alive, and now over 100 of these beleaguered southern predators roam free throughout five counties in North Carolina. The trouble is, where do you put a far-roaming predator these days without its getting shot? Many that have been released have died of acute lead poisoning when they came into contact with guns and intolerance.

Joel’s commentary: Among endangered species fanatics, the story of the red wolf is high drama. For this book, my encounter came in the dead of winter at a zoo in Sioux falls, South Dakota. And though they’ve spent all their lives in captivity, the wild is still in their eyes. You get the feeling that their kind could make it again in the wild, if only we would let them.

The above is an excerpt from Joel’s book Rare: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species. To find out more click www.rarethebook.com.

photo by Joel Sartore

National Geographic Assignment photographer Joel Sartore, whose NG book,
"Rare," will be published March 16, has been named Outstanding Nature Photographer
of the Year by the North American Nature Photography Association. The award was presented Saturday in Reno, Nevada. Click here to view Joel's portfolio.