Significant update on preserved great white shark discovered in abandoned wildlife park

There's been an update on the preserved great white shark that was found in an abandoned wildlife park.

Rosie, the preserved great white shark, died in 1997 after getting trapped in tuna fishing nets off the Australian coast. With no way to safely release her, officials decided to humanely euthanize the shark.

Initially stored in a freezer for educational purposes, Rosie was even autopsied at one point following reports of a missing person off the same coast.

Rosie the great white shark died in 1997. Credit: Facebook

Back in 1998, Wildlife Wonderland, a wildlife park in Victoria, agreed to purchase her for a reported $500,000 AUD (approximately $325,800 US) and placed her in a large tank filled with toxic formaldehyde to preserve her body.

When the park shut down in 2012, Rosie was left behind. While other animals were relocated, the 16ft shark remained trapped in her glass tank as the abandoned facility fell into decay.

Rosie's story was shared on Facebook by content creator Em of the public page Emzotic, alongside a string of images showcasing the large fish in full.

“People were horrified and captivated. Videos of her decaying tank circulated like urban legends. And just when it seemed like she’d be lost to time… Rosie was rescued," Em wrote in the caption.

“In 2019, she was transferred to a museum where she’s now being cared for and respectfully restored and displayed. Her story is a strange blend of tragedy, fascination, and the powerful way animals continue to capture our hearts, even after death," she added.

In the comments section, people shared their thoughts. One person said: “I always felt so bad for poor Rosie. And people breaking in and destroying her tank always hurt to hear about. I'm glad she's been moved and is now being taken care of.”

Another shared: “The level of NOPE if I was in an abandoned park and found a mummy shark absolutely NOT we are LEAVING.”

After the park closed, thrill-seekers broke in regularly, with many uploading footage of the eerie shark floating in the dark, abandoned hall.

“People opened the tank up and were using hedge trimmers to try break teeth out of Rosie’s mouth,” recalled her caretaker, Tom, in an interview with The Sun.

“It’s a 20ft-long tank the size of a shipping container filled with formaldehyde and kids were throwing rocks at the glass. Had they broken the glass, they would have been killed," he added.

It wasn’t until YouTuber Luke McPherson shared a haunting video of Rosie in 2018 that her story sparked renewed interest in her fate.

Rescued and preserved - again

That same year, plans were reportedly in motion to destroy Rosie for safety reasons. But Tom, who describes himself as “just a crazy old guy who likes rocks and dead sharks," stepped in.

He now keeps Rosie on display outside his Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Devon Meadows, about an hour outside Melbourne.

Despite her new setting being in a car park, Tom is committed to her preservation. “It would be sacrilegious if she had been buried in landfill. Doesn’t everyone want a shark preserved in their backyard?” he joked.

Tom, who said he grew up with reptiles and animals thanks to his father, had previously experimented with preserving snakes. Saving Rosie, though, has come at a significant cost.

“It was never about making money out of her. If anything, she’s cost me a significant amount of money,” he said. “They’re beautiful creatures and we shouldn’t be destroying their homes.”

Featured image credit: Facebook