{"id":40470,"date":"2024-07-31T11:22:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T09:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7b2c918b-84e0-47f6-963d-0e2d91c1ef6c"},"modified":"2024-07-31T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T10:27:34","slug":"welcome-to-the-most-spectacular-show-on-earth-diver-films-incredible-feeding-frenzy-from-inside-a-sardine-mega-shoal","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/welcome-to-the-most-spectacular-show-on-earth-diver-films-incredible-feeding-frenzy-from-inside-a-sardine-mega-shoal\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWelcome to the most spectacular show on Earth!\u201d Diver films incredible feeding frenzy from inside a sardine mega-shoal"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the world’s most magnificent wildlife spectacles takes place from May to July every year \u2013 take a deep dive into South Africa’s remarkable sardine run. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2024 at 09:22 AM<\/p>

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Each year, from May to July, a huge annual migration of sardines along the east coast of South Africa creates an underwater feeding frenzy \u2013 and tourists from around the world come to see the incredible phenomenon.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cWelcome to the most spectacular show on Earth!\u201d says Robert from\u00a0Mozambique Experience<\/a>,\u00a0who has been guiding the Sardine Run since 2007.<\/p>

South Africa’s sardine run is one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Credit: Simon Hilbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The sardines \u201cget trapped in cold water currents pushing north along the coast,\u201d says professional underwater cameraman\u00a0Simon Hilbourne<\/a>,\u00a0who filmed the spectacle. <\/p>

“Myriad predators descend\u00a0on the sardines picking them off one by one.<\/p>

\u201cFrom the air, Cape gannets rain down on the water’s surface whilst schools of sharks<\/a> and pods of\u00a0common dolphins<\/a> attack from below,\u201d says Hilbourne. <\/p>

Intimate view from inside the sardine mega-shoal. Credit: Simon Hilbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cWe also witnessed an unusual spectacle where a\u00a0humpback whale<\/a> joined the feeding frenzy, slowly cruising through the bait balls trying to engulf as many sardines in its mouth as possible.\u201d<\/p>

A humpback whale joins the feeding frenzy. Credit: Simon Hilbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Mozambique Experience team, who were at the sardine run on a different trip from Hilbourne, also saw birds diving, seals, dolphins darting through the water, sharks cutting through the sardines and even a\u00a0Bryde\u2019s whale<\/a>\u00a0passing through. <\/p>

\u201cThe few days of wind and waves seemed to be the best for the action,\u201d says Robert.\u00a0<\/p>

Predators hunt the sardines from above and below the water. Credit: Simon Hilbourne<\/figcaption><\/figure>

More amazing wildlife stories<\/strong><\/p>