Great White Rocket

Great whites off South Africa patrol near seal colonies, watching for prey on the surface

Ian Lauder
Oct 01, 2007

A GREAT WHITE SHARK bursts from the waters of South Africa's False Bay to strike a hookless decoy that resembles a seal. Great whites off South Africa patrol near seal colonies, watching for prey on the surface. They attack with such force that they launch into the air. Lauder sailed False Bay with his camera trained constantly on the decoy. "This particular shot took me about a week of sitting in a boat, and on this day it took over an hour of holding a large camera and a 3-pound gyroscope stabilizer, to the point I could barely hold the camera up anymore when the shark breached."

Get Involved

Donate Today

Sign a Petition

Donate Monthly

Nearby Events

Where We Work

More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

Learn More