The drama unfolds off the Wild Coast, along the East coast of South Africa, where dolphins take the lead in this all-you-can-eat sardine buffet.
Dolphins orchestrate the hunt, initiating the onslaught and causing the school of fish to scatter. Following their lead, sharks, gannets, and a massive Bryde’s whale join the fray.
Renowned wildlife photographer Michael Aw, hailing from Sydney, Australia, was fortunate enough to be underwater during this awe-inspiring spectacle. He described this mass feast, often referred to as the ‘sardine run,’ as “the greatest show on earth – the pinnacle of wildlife adventure.”
Approximately 300 dusky sharks, bronze whale sharks, and sand tiger sharks, along with 150 dolphins and 1,000 gannets, participated in this extraordinary event, alongside the majestic Bryde’s whale.
Michael Aw, who diligently photographs the sardine run every year, marveled at the experience. “This is the greatest show on earth – the pinnacle of wildlife adventure,” he declared.
He added, “A scientist confirmed that there were nine million sardines in the enormous ball, all transpiring 25 meters below the surface. The dolphins would break out a substantial chunk of sardines from the main shoal and chase it towards the surface. Then it’s a free-for-all – the birds dive in, followed by the sharks and the whale moving in to feast.”
The school of sardines employs a survival strategy of tightly clustering together, creating a massive ball to deter predators. This breathtaking spectacle kept Michael engaged from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., leaving him in awe of the untamed beauty of the natural world.
“Witnessing it was breathtaking – exhilarating – nothing can compare to it; it was the wildest of all wild moments,” Michael exclaimed.
