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Mako shark - Source: ONE News -
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One of the biggest Mako Sharks ever spotted in New Zealand waters, has been dissected in the name of science.
The rare exploration of the 3.6 metre monster was carried out in the open air, with the public welcome to watch.
The 460kg shark unexpectedly arrived in the waters of Mapua last month, too sick and weak to fight the currents. One local paddled over for a peek at the predator and was determined that it was not going to be the one that got away.
"I gave it a couple of prods with the oar and it didn't seem too disturbed about things, gave it a couple more and it turned around and smiled at me," says Dennis Crawford, Mapua fisherman.
The rare find was an opportunity scientists couldn't wait to sink their teeth into.
"They're usually just so large they just break off fishing lines or bust through nets and things like that, so they're not often landed," says Clinton Duffy, Doc shark expert.
During the dissection scientists were able to determine that an infected gall bladder killed the female Mako.
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