Amazing photos have been taken of the moment that a baby seal narrowly avoided the jaws and death of a great-white shark.
The ‘extremely rare’ sighting took place on ‘Seal Island’, a small rock where large numbers of the pups congregate, in False Bay, South Africa.
The great white sharks lurk around the rocks and target seals as they enter the water.
Because of the poor light at dawn, large predators can go unnoticed before building speed and attacking seals.
The shark bit the puppy, but it managed to get away.
One baby seal escapes from the jaws a great white shark in False Bay.
Due to poor lighting at sunrise, the huge white sharks are not seen. They then build up speed and launch themselves towards the seals.
Peter Bradley took these photographs. He said that the stunning sunrise and incredible mountain backdrop made them stand out.
Although the baby seal was able to avoid the jaws and four-metre shark in the chase, it is unlikely that it sustained any injuries.
It is unlikely, however that the seal survives the bite.
Peter Bradley (55), a photographer, was present at the scene and described the experience as an “exhilarating encounter”.
He explained that “The Great Whites seek out the young, small and less skilled seals.” They circle the bay in order to find a target and use this distance as a way of increasing speed.
“They change their speed and direction to reach the seal below. Surprising is key. They can often swim fast enough to lift themselves completely out of water, and then knock the seals off.
“The seal was successfully hit by the shark. They both fly together out of the water, and then the great white grabs the seal.
This ‘extremely rare sighting’ occurs in one region of the globe and only ‘for very few weeks’. It is usually just after dawn.
Picture of a great white shark leaping into the air to pursue a baby seal from False Bay, South Africa
Seals are more capable of turning in water, and sometimes can escape when they’re not seriously injured during an attack.
“These sightings can only be found in very few places. These sightings are very rare, and they only occur in one location. They usually happen just after dawn.
According to the photographer, “Sunrise” is crucial because the shark can see the sun coming from the darkness.
It’s an exciting experience. It takes focus, patience and a lot of luck to capture it on film. The stunning sunrise, and incredible mountain backdrop make these photos stand out to me.
“The Great White Shark’s power, agility, and beauty are incredible.”