One of New Zealand’s top predators was cut to pieces in public today and thousands gave up a day at the beach to come and watch.
Marine experts at Auckland Museum dissected a Great White shark which died after it got stuck in a net.
The dissection of the three metre long, 300kg shark is the believed to be the first necropsy, animal autopsy, of a Great White.
“The aim for us was to help people get a better understanding of this incredibly important species,” says the Department of Conservation’s Simon Banks.
The necropsy was shown on screens throughout the museum and streamed on the internet.
It was followed by media in the UK, Australia and the USA.
Scientists began the dissection after measuring the shark.
As the stomach was opened some were hoping for a repeat of the famous scene in Jaws where a car number plate is discovered inside the famous shark.
However, the only thing found was a hook from a snapper, one of many found in its belly.
Many of the sharks organs will be kept for research purposes and the jaw will be kept for display.
The rest of the remains will be returned to the sea.
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