A photographer in Bryon Bay, Australia, was blown away when she spotted sharks unintentionally making stunning art as they swam through dense bait balls.
Ocean photographer Lise de Boer shared the footage on Instagram, describing the morning as “one of the best ones [she’s] had in a really long time.”
Her aerial footage captures "hundreds of sharks creating the most beautiful art in bait balls. It was absolutely mesmerising to watch,” she says.
When fish feel under threat, they can pack themselves together in tight groups, called bait balls, for safety in numbers and to try to confuse predators. But these large groups can also attract predators – such as sharks, dolphins and whales – who try to maximise the opportunity for a quick snack.
De Boer watched as the sharks swam into the tight throng of fish, creating sharp lines where they swam as the fish fled for their lives.
She says she saw reef sharks, bronze whalers and bull sharks all cruising along, trying to get a taste of the fishy feast. She also thinks she saw a great white shark in the mix.
In the comments, de Boer’s followers celebrate the hypnotic sight as the presence of lots of sharks signals a healthy ocean ecosystem.
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Photo and image credit: Lise de Boer @lisedeboer
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