In the waters off Robberg, South Africa, Cape fur seals benefit from powerful ocean currents that bring in plentiful amounts of fish.
The Robberg Peninsula is home to thousands of this seal species, which is endemic to South Africa, who don’t need to swim out too far for a meal.
However, the huge shoals of fish also attract another animal to the waters: great white sharks.
These apex predators are usually solitary hunters but have been gathering in larger, “unprecedented” numbers at Robberg.
And during filming for the BBC TV series Planet Earth III, the seals (and their pups) initially seem trapped. But the crew then capture the moment the seals engineer a remarkable manoeuvre in order to drive the sharks away and save themselves.
As David Attenborough narrates, “The tables are turning. By sheer force of numbers, these fur seals drive the world’s most notorious predator back out to sea.”
This article by Sophie Ellis was first published by Discover Wildlife on 20 March 2026. Lead Image: Education Images / Contributor / Getty Images.
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