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Resting Rosie

Short answer: Rosie is a preserved great white shark, about 5 m long, now on show at Crystal World Exhibition Centre in Devon Meadows, Victoria, Australia. She was caught in tuna nets off South Australia in 1997 or 1998 (sources differ) and couldn't be freed.

She was then preserved whole in formaldehyde at Wildlife Wonderland, a park in Bass, Victoria. When that park closed in 2012, she was left behind in a shed. Late in 2018, urban explorer Luke McPherson's video of her went viral. Trespassers followed and damaged the tank, which let toxic formaldehyde escape. Crystal World's owner, Tom Kapitany, took her on, and she was craned out and moved on February 21, 2019. Her formaldehyde has since been replaced with glycerol.

VideoWrite-up4 sources
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What should you know about Resting Rosie?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Rosie was moved to Crystal World on February 21, 2019.

    DD-709-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home)

  2. Her formaldehyde was replaced with glycerol, a safer preservative.

    DD-709-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home)

Video transcript: Resting Rosie: A Great White Kept in a Tank for 20 Years

DID YOU KNOW? "Rosie" the Shark is the nickname given to a remarkably well-preserved great white shark specimen displayed at Crystal World Exhibition Centre. The shark was caught in 1998 and preserved in a large tank of formaldehyde solution, where it remained largely unnoticed for years. After the exhibition center closed, urban explorers rediscovered Rosie in 2018. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 18.7s Reel ·

Video coming soonResting Rosie · Instagram Reel
Resting Rosie: A Great White Kept in a Tank for 20 Years Instagram Reel · · 18.7s

The write-up

A great white kept in a tank for 20 years. Rosie was rescued from an abandoned wildlife park in 2019.

  1. Exhibit A

    Caught in a tuna net

    Rosie got tangled in a tuna fishing family's nets off South Australia and couldn't be freed safely. Crystal World and Newsweek date this to 1997, and Crystal World's shop page says 1998.

  2. Exhibit B

    A tank at Wildlife Wonderland

    Wildlife Wonderland in Bass, Victoria, acquired her and displayed her in a custom tank of formaldehyde. Because she wasn't gutted, as most specimens are, her body stayed solid and in near-perfect condition.

  3. Exhibit C

    Left behind

    The park closed in 2012, and Rosie stayed in her tank in a dark shed as the site fell into disrepair.

  4. Exhibit D

    Gone viral

    Late in 2018, urban explorer Luke McPherson posted a video of her that drew millions of views. Trespassers followed. Some broke into the tank, letting formaldehyde fumes escape, and the landowner considered destroying her.

  5. Exhibit E

    A new home

    Tom Kapitany of Crystal World took her on. The chemicals were pumped out and she was craned out through the shed roof, arriving at Devon Meadows on February 21, 2019. She is now kept in glycerol, a safer preservative.

Questions people ask about Resting Rosie

Where was Rosie displayed before the 2012 closure?

Wildlife Wonderland in Bass, Victoria.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A tank at Wildlife Wonderland) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark

What species is Rosie?

A great white, about 5 m long.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Caught in a tuna net) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

How was Rosie caught?

She got tangled in tuna nets off South Australia.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Caught in a tuna net) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

What preservative replaced her formaldehyde?

Glycerol (glycerin), a safer preservative.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home) · Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

In what year was she moved to Crystal World?

She arrived on February 21, 2019.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home) · Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Where was Rosie displayed before the 2012 closure?

    1. Wildlife Wonderland
    2. Sydney Aquarium
    3. Melbourne Museum
    4. Crystal World
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Wildlife Wonderland Wildlife Wonderland in Bass, Victoria. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A tank at Wildlife Wonderland) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark

  2. What species is Rosie?

    1. Great white shark
    2. Tiger shark
    3. Whale shark
    4. Bull shark
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Great white shark A great white, about 5 m long. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Caught in a tuna net) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

  3. How was Rosie caught?

    1. In tuna fishing nets
    2. By a research vessel
    3. On a beach
    4. In a shark-control drum line
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. In tuna fishing nets She got tangled in tuna nets off South Australia. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Caught in a tuna net) · Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

  4. What preservative replaced her formaldehyde?

    1. Glycerol
    2. Ethanol
    3. Salt water
    4. Vinegar
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Glycerol Glycerol (glycerin), a safer preservative. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home) · Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

  5. In what year was she moved to Crystal World?

    1. 2012
    2. 2018
    3. 2019
    4. 2022
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. 2019 She arrived on February 21, 2019. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (A new home) · Crystal World Exhibition Centre and Sales: Rosie the Shark; Crystal World: Rosie The Shark, A Tale of Survival and Preservation; Newsweek: The Story of the Great White Shark Discovered at an Abandoned Zoo

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Resting Rosie." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-709, last updated Mar 28, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/resting-rosie/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/resting-rosie/ · Last updated

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Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-709-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/resting-rosie/#DD-709-F01