By Brendan Rees
A preserved Great White Shark that was left to decay in an abandoned aquarium in Bass has been rehomed in Devon Meadows.
The two-tonne beast, dubbed Rosie has sat in her tank at the Wildlife Wonderland since the park was closed in 2012.
Late last year, a You Tube video went viral of the forgotten shark, amassing millions of viewers.
The clip unfortunately meant vandals and souvenir hunters trespassed into the private property where they smashed Rosie’s tank and threw rubbish.
Fed up, the owner felt Rosie had to be taken to landfill unless a new owner could be found in a matter of days.
The owner of Crystal World and Prehistoric Journeys Exhibition Centre in Devon Meadows decided to step in and save Rosie.
The four-metre was lifted onto the back of a truck and driven down the Bass Highway – past a welcoming party on Kooweerup – en route to Crystal World on Thursday 21 February.
It marks the end of a two-month campaign to have the animal relocated from the Bass site.
The shark was originally captured in 1998 in the tuna fishing nets of South Australia.
Crystal World IT manager Sharon Williamson, who is also from the Australian Animal Rescue, saw the plight of the shark and made contact with the owner.
“They agreed to donate her to Crystal World so she can continue her preservation,” she said.
Ms Williamson said transporting Rosie was “a bit tedious” which also required the assistance of a crane before Rosie was shipped on the road.
“It was just the logistics of her weight and everything,” she said. “Just getting her so she didn’t roll or move during her transport…it was a slow drive back to Devon Meadows. It’s not a far drive was good.
“Even though she’s not alive she’s been in that tank for a long time so she still deserves bit of dignity rather than landfill.”
Ms Williamson said the response from the public had been overwhelming with people coming every day to see her.
“At the moment her tank’s been cleaned out so getting her ready for the next step, which they’re going to fill it up with glycerine.
About 20,000 litres of glycerine will be needed at a cost between $30,000 and $50,000, she said.
With temperatures set to soar above 30 degrees this week, Ms Williamson “we’ve got to work pretty fast so she doesn’t get any more damage or dry out.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise $100,000 to remove items and prepare Rosie’s tank.
