Discovering Rosie: The Remarkable Story Of Australia's Preserved Great White Shark

There is an exhibition center in Australia that houses one very unique attraction—a dead and preserved great white shark. The shark, known as Rosie, lies suspended in a tank at Crystal World, in Victoria—which is owned by botanist, geologist, and entrepreneur, Tom Kapitany. Visitors from far and wide come and see her for free in the center's parking lot—but this wasn’t always the case. Before then, she was discovered at an abandoned wildlife park, submerged in green, toxic sludge.

So, how did she get there? Before she was preserved, Rosie the Shark once swam the waters off Portland, South Australia, until she became entangled in a tuna net in 1997. Kapitany, the new owner of Rosie, was not there at the time but knows the history well. He explained to Newsweek that Rosie’s life ended when she was trapped in a tuna net, thrashing around, which caused immense stress. Due to the danger of approaching a distressed great white shark, rescuers made the difficult decision to end her life with a bullet.

Rosie was then placed in a tank and transported to Wonderland Wildlife Park in Victoria, where she was preserved in formaldehyde, a highly toxic chemical. For several years, she remained in this state until 2012 when the park shut down, and all attractions were removed, leaving Rosie alone in a dark shed for years.

The Discovery of Rosie

It wasn’t until urban explorer Luke McPherson stumbled across Rosie in 2018 while exploring the abandoned amusement park that she captured global attention. McPherson recorded the discovery and uploaded it to YouTube, where it has since received over 17 million views. However, this newfound fame came with unintended consequences, as people began to trespass on the property to see Rosie, leading to vandalism of the buildings and displays around her.

People even attempted to take some of Rosie’s teeth, resulting in damage to her tank. This act exposed the formaldehyde, creating hazardous conditions that required the use of hazmat suits for anyone entering the area. Concerned about public liability, the owner planned to destroy Rosie, but Kapitany stepped in and decided he would take her with the intention of properly preserving and displaying her.

The Restoration Process

Kapitany and his team worked diligently to restore Rosie to her former glory and relocate her to Crystal World, a center celebrating crystals, fossils, and minerals. He is known for making quick decisions, having experimented with taxidermy and preservation techniques in his youth. By the time Rosie arrived at Crystal World in 2019, her tank was incredibly toxic due to neglect, so Kapitany chose to replace the formaldehyde with glycerin, a safer, natural preservative.

Now, Rosie resides in approximately 5,000 liters of glycerin, allowing visitors to see her clearly without the risks associated with toxic chemicals. Although Crystal World doesn’t track visitor numbers precisely, it’s estimated that around 50,000 people come to see Rosie each year. Kapitany emphasizes the importance of preserving Rosie as a protected endangered species, highlighting the educational value of her display for raising awareness about marine life and conservation efforts.

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, the story of Rosie the Shark not only sheds light on an extraordinary marine specimen but also highlights the importance of conservation efforts and public awareness regarding endangered species. By visiting Rosie at Crystal World, guests can learn about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the necessity of their preservation.