THIS JAWSOME DISPLAY IS THE BIGGEST YET
IT WILL be the biggest exhibition the Australian Museum has created, and maybe the most intriguing.
The exhibition’s simple name – Sharks – gives away its content but belies its size and complexity.
And the exhibition has been designed to be family friendly and appealing to kids by being extremely interactive
From September 24, the museum in Sydney’s Darlinghurst will have 11 life-size shark models on display that were 3D printed in South Australia, as well as specimens from the Australian Museum’s own collection.
Visitors will come face-to-face with an 8m-long whale shark and uncover their extraordinary adaptations to underwater life.
Interactive displays and touchable specimens will reveal more about the oceans’ apex predators.
You’ll even be able to explore the contents of a shark’s stomach.
Sharks have ruled the oceans for 450 million years and the exhibition also sheds some light on the secrets of their long presence on the planet.
Museum chief executive Kim McKay said: “This is the largest exhibition we’ve ever created.
“You’ll go down to the deep and feel like you’re surrounded by these creatures. If you’ve got a fascination with sharks this is the place to be.”
Australia is home to 183 of the 500-plus species of sharks across the world.
With cultural connections reaching back countless generations, visitors will discover how First Nations’ and Pasifika peoples’ knowledge of sharks can help us to protect them in the future.
“Historically they have played an important role in First Nations and Pacific culture,” Ms McKay said.
“The story of the role sharks play in the community of First Nations people will be told against the scientific element of sharks.
“Grey nurse sharks have been almost hunted to extinction … they’re not predators to be hunted as they’ve been portrayed in the past.
“I think knowledge is the best way to alleviate people’s fears.”