The Auckland Museum will perform a rare autopsy on a 660 pound adolescent great white shark on Thursday. This is an opportunity to learn more about the feeding habits of this feared apex predator.  One thing will make this operation unique; it will be viewed live by about 1,000 members of the public, and will be streamed live on the internet for millions to witness.   Scientists at the museum say this is a unique opportunity to learn more about the very recent past of this shark, including the possibility to recovering stomach contents that will shed light on the recent diet of the animal. “We’re interested in the gut content to see what the shark has eaten – it could be anything from seals, penguins, fish or even whale blubber,” Tom Trnski, marine curator at Auckland Museum, told Times Online, adding that the female’s reproductive organs will also be investigated. Great White sharks are a protected species in New Zealand, but this shark was accidentally killed when she was caught in a fisherman’s commercial nets in Auckland’s Kaipari Harbour.

In recent weeks, there has been much buzz about great white sharks in New Zealand, following the recent news of 51-year-old Brian Guest, who went missing while snorkeling off a beach in Western Australia just after a 14ft great white shark was seen thrashing about in the water where he disappeared. No trace of him has since been found.

We will post follow-up details of this scientific investigation, including video when it is available.

Read More About This at the TimeOnline.com

Phil Ellis

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