Preserved great white shark moved from abandoned Gippsland wildlife park

A nightmarish great white shark made waves after being discovered floating at an abandoned Gippsland wildlife park, but has now been saved from the tip and given a clean new home. This is where you can see “Rosie” in her full terrifying glory.

Rosie’s future was up in the air long before she was craned into her new home near Cranbourne today.

The dead great white shark was saved from an impending trip to the tip after being discovered in a closed wildlife park in Bass, South Gippsland, by an abandoned building explorer.

Luke McPherson posted a video of the big fish after stumbling upon it at the Australian Wildlife Wonderland Park late last year.

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A shark in a tank of formaldehyde in an abandoned Bass wildlife park.

“Rosie” the shark has been saved from the tip. Picture: Ian Currie

The shark, suspended in a tank of formaldehyde, became something of an unofficial tourist attraction after millions saw the video, sparking break-ins and a renewed push to rehome or destroy her.

It even forced local police to release a warning to nosy trespassers.

“Please be advised that this location is on private property so we advise the public not to attend the area,” the warning said. “You run the risk of being charged with trespassing offences.”

But Rosie was snatched from the jaws of fate and donated by the owners to Crystal World, where she arrived this afternoon.

The 5m great white shark was caught in South Australia in 1998. Picture: Ian Currie

The huge fish had been left in its tank after Wildlife Wonderland was forced to close in 2012. Picture: Ian Currie

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“When I saw this and realised it was still there, I got on to it … to continue her preservation,” park worker Sharon Williamson said.

“Otherwise, she was going to go to landfill. It was quite logistical, getting it out here and the emptying it.”

She said it would be great to see Rosie “in all her glory” once the tank had been cleaned and refilled.

A crane prepares to move the massive shark and its tank. Picture: Ian Currie

Crystal World staffer Sharon Williamson gets a closer look at the shark. Picture: Ian Currie

A Facebook fan page for the shark claimed she was caught in tuna fishing nets in 1998, then preserved in a tank of formaldehyde.

“It went from something that I thought was just simple like an abandoned building with a great white shark in a tank, I didn’t think anything big of it,” YouTuber Mr McPherson said.

“Then it went nuts and the end result is this. It’s awesome. I’m just glad that it didn’t get destroyed.”

Visitors will be asked to donate a gold coin for an animal rescue charity if they wish to visit Rosie, as she floats away the rest of her days.

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