Photographer captured 'holy grail' of marine animals' feeding frenzy in South Africa during annual 'Sardine Run'

Some of the most marvelous interactions between different beings are captured underwater. One of them has been put forward by photographer Rolf Kolenbrander (@rolf_kolenbrander) on his social media. The video shows a Bryde's whale reaching for sardines and, in one flat swoop, gulping in dozens of them. The magnanimity of the whale, in contrast with the little fish around it, instantly grabs attention. The video reveals both nature's dominance and vulnerability in the same frame. As per the caption, the breathtaking meeting happened at Port St. Johns in South Africa, with Kolenbrander capturing it in collaboration with "Shark Explorers."

South Africa's 'Sardine Run'

The interaction happened during an event called "Sardine Run," according to Discover Wildlife. The event lasts from mid-June to late July on South Africa's east coast. During this event, a large number of marine animals, like sharks, birds, seabirds, and whales, gather every year to hunt for sardines. The phenomenon is also called "the greatest shoal on Earth" due to the sheer number and variety of animals it attracts. The sardines also migrate to the spot from the cold waters of the Cape to enjoy the warmer currents of KwaZulu-Natal.

The pursuit of a photographer

Kolenbrander wanted to capture what he called the "holy grail" of this event for a long time. He wanted to witness a scene featuring multiple sardines surrounded by apex predators of the sea. For five seasons, it remained a far-off dream. In 2025, he finally fulfilled his wish. A spotter plane alerted him that his "holy grail" may be unfolding at Port St. Johns. The plane operator informed him that a sardine bait ball had attracted thousands of birds, along with five Bryde's whales underwater, near his boat. Kolenbrander reached the spot with the camera and was instantly disappointed. "The whales had devoured nearly the entire bait ball just two minutes earlier," he said. "Had we really missed the main event by mere minutes?"

Fortunately, that was not the case, as he soon spotted five sardine bait balls in the location. These balls were being approached by seven Bryde's whales, multiple dolphins, and thousands of Cape gannets. The video focuses on the action of just one Bryde's whale. Kolenbrander described the utter destruction caused by sardines as "Nature's precision and power on full display!" The comment section was equally in love with the scene.

Danger to Sardines

The Sardine Run is a phenomenon that marine animals look forward to every year to fulfill their needs. It keeps the food chain balanced. However, in recent years, the number of sardines has been declining, which is negatively impacting the process, according to Two Ocean Aquarium. The biggest culprit behind this decrease is commercial fishing. 200,000 tonnes of sardines are captured annually from the Western Cape, according to reports. This hunting decreases the available food resource for marine predators in their habitat, disturbing the ecosystem. Climate change is also affecting the temperature of the waters, which is further damaging the scope and reach of migration undertaken by sardines. Sardine health must be monitored with strict laws, not only to keep the 'Sardine Run' going, but also to have a flourishing marine ecosystem.