Melody Teh

News

Tue, 30 Jun, 2015

Spectacular images of life under the water

Spectacular images of life under the water

It’s called the “Sardine Run” and it’s one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world.

Every year billions of sardines swim from the cold waters of South Africa's Cape Point northwards along the country's east coast. Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy with dolphins, whales, birds and fur seals gorging themselves on the giant balls of fish.

These images, captured by underwater photographer and marine enthusiast Greg Lecoeur, reveal exactly what happens under the water. 

The 'Sardine Run' is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world

The sardines have a safety-in-numbers philosophy, but these stunning pictures show that it has its flaws

The pictures were taken by underwater photographer and marine enthusiast Greg Lecoeur, 37, who made the journey from his hometown on Nice, France, to document the migration, which happens in late-June each year

In terms of biomass the run is equal to east Africa's world-famous great wildebeest stampede, which sees over two million of the animals head from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in search of more verdant pastures

The shoal can be nine miles long, 130 feet deep and two miles wide - so big that it can be seen from space. Here a whale homes in on a fish supper

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