Rosie the Shark: From Forgotten Ghost to Rescued Legend

In the eerie silence of an abandoned Australian wildlife park, urban explorer Luke McPherson uncovered a haunting secret in 2018 — a massive 5-meter great white shark, Rosie, suspended in a murky formaldehyde tank like a frozen phantom from the deep.

Caught accidentally in 1997 nets, preserved since 1998, then left to decay after Wildlife Wonderland shut in 2012, Rosie floated neglected for years — a majestic predator reduced to a decaying relic. The viral video shocked the world, igniting outrage, millions of views, and a powerful wave of concern.
That global outcry sparked a heroic rescue! In 2019, Crystal World Exhibition Centre owner Tom Kapitany stepped up, craned her out (literally breaking the roof!), transported her to safety, and began painstaking restoration — switching to safer glycerol, constant monitoring, and tender care.

Today, Rosie stands proudly on permanent display at Crystal World in Devon Meadows — no longer abandoned, but a breathtaking symbol of marine wonder, human responsibility, and second chances.
From ghostly abandonment to eternal guardian of the seas — Rosie’s story moves hearts and reminds us: even the mighty deserve respect and redemption.