Months after, the YouTube video gained millions of views, prompting a rise in trespassing into the property to view the shark, with vandals also damaging and graffitiing the tank and its surroundings. In November 2018, a video released on YouTube by urban explorer Luke McPherson showed inside the decaying wildlife park and later stumbling upon the shark tank. In 2012, Wildlife Wonderland was reported to have been operating its business without appropriate licenses, forcing it to cease operations and surrender all live animals to RSPCA Australia and the Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria. 'We had to build a purpose-built room and the roof had to be removed and the shark craned in and put into a new, sealed tank.' įounder of Wildlife Wonderland, John Matthews recalled the operation of ownership: 'It was a huge logistical operation, working with Melbourne Museum, and all up cost us about $500,000.' įollowing the necropsy, Rosie was preserved in a formaldehyde solution in a custom-built tank. Īs Rosie was being transported to Wildlife Wonderland in Victoria in a refrigerated truck, it was impounded by the Government of South Australia because a woman had been reported missing, requiring a necropsy of the shark at the South Australian Museum. Wildlife Wonderland purchased it instead. Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre initially showed interest in purchasing the shark from the Lukin family, but later decided against the purchase. The great white shark was killed after becoming caught in the Lukin family's tuna fishing nets on the coast of South Australia in 1997. It was originally preserved in a glass tank of formaldehyde on display at Wildlife Wonderland in Bass, Victoria which closed in 2012 due to animal welfare concerns and operating without appropriate licences. Rosie the Shark is a preserved great white shark located at Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Devon Meadows, Australia. Taylor tells us while urban exploration may be dangerous, it’s a risk he’s willing to take, saying, “We’ve been caught a few times and I’m still out doing it.”įacing physical harm, fines, even jail time - all in the name of art.Tom Kapitany and Sharon Williamson standing with Rosie the Shark at the Crystal World Exhibition Centre. Taylor says the motto of “urban explorers” is the popular quote, “take only pictures, leave only footprints.” However, as the popularity grows, he sees more people stealing from and damaging the buildings. #abandoned #abandonment_issues #abandon_seekers #abandoned_world #abandonednola #forgotten #grime #grime_lords #glitz_n_grime #grime_scene_investigators #showmethatgrime #nola #neworleans #royalsnappingartists #urbex #tv_urbex #urbandecay #agameoftones #urbex_supreme #gone_butnot_forgotten #ig_urbex #urbextreme #rustlord #the_relics #all_is_abandoned #trailblazers_urbex #royalsnappingartists #moodygrams #decay_nation #rsa_preciousjunk #abandonedafterdarkĪ post shared by Brandt Vicknair on at 10:59am PST We want people to be safe and entering those types of structures is not what you should do to be safe.” Williams explains, “It’s really just a safety thing. Those risks range from biohazards to animals and debris. They’re looking out for the safety of both urban explorers and the first responders who go after them because lurking amidst the imagery is danger. She also offers a stern warning: police are watching! Williams blames social media, specifically Instagram, “With the onset of social media and people being able to share experiences with their friends, with other people on the internet.” Taylor then shares his photos of these abandoned buildings online, for the world to see. Taylor says, “We’ve found x-ray machines that are still running in places before, places that still have electricity and old operating rooms and morgues.” “It’s almost somber walking around a lot of these buildings like charity, where so much crazy stuff happened during Katrina.” We meet an urban explorer we only know as Taylor.Īt night, Taylor finds beauty in decay, exploring abandoned power plants, a forgotten theme park or a shuttered hospital, taking photographs as he goes. Super cool project in the works from keep an eye out!Ī post shared by abandonednola on at 1:57pm PST

Urban explorer killed