Watching a large creature being cut open is not everyone's idea of a Saturday afternoon outing, but conservationists are picking a strong turnout for their public dissection of a shark this weekend.
The rare opportunity to see the inner workings of an almost-half-tonne adult mako is being promoted
to the public by the Department of Conservation in Nelson "but good views are not guaranteed".
"People watching are expected to stand and to be considerate of others so everyone gets a good view," the publicity says.
Marine educator Richard de Hamel said it was about science and education "not some sort of bloodbath ... and it's not entertainment".
It was difficult to predict the spectator turnout as it was the first time this had been done. But given that finding an adult mako was so rare, and this particular one was one of the heaviest ever recorded in New Zealand, there could be a lot of interest.
When the 3.3m-long shark was recently collected after dying in the Mapua estuary, near Nelson, about 200 people turned up to have a look.
"It's a female and she seems in very good condition ... and she could well have babies inside," Mr de Hamel said. "It would be a real shame not to at least investigate some of that stuff."
Mr de Hamel contacted an old friend, shark expert Clinton Duffy, who agreed to help with the dissection.
"Since then I have talked to many, many people locally and just about everybody has said, 'Oh, sounds fascinating, I would love to come and see what goes on.' From that response I think we could have an awful lot of people."
A public address system had been organised for the experts to explain what was going on, and various parts of the shark would be cut out for closer public viewing.
Mr de Hamel said it was rare for adult makos to be caught because they were so intelligent. The one being dissected may have died of old age.
