Planet Shark: Predator or Prey Exhibition

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey Exhibition

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Posted 2019-09-02 by BecSorbyfollow

Sat 06 Jul 2019 - Sun 10 Nov 2019

Western Australia has a tumultuous relationship with the shark, but is the ocean's oldest predator a force to be feared, or misunderstood prey itself?

The WA Maritime Museum's latest exhibition, 'Planet Shark: Predator or Prey' , will turn your knowledge and misconceptions about sharks on its head.



This interactive and immersive "out of water" exhibit is an opportunity to escape into the world of the shark and gain a deeper understanding of them.

Learn about their evolution and history, how they hunt and explore their complex relationships with man.



'Planet Shark: Predator or Prey' will run until Sunday, 10th November 2019 at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle.

I took my 4 and 2-year-old children along for a look. My youngest was a bit hesitant, but with some coaxing that the awesome true-to-life shark models aren't real, she was fine. She has a fear of animals, even little birds, so a giant shark is probably slightly scary for a 2-year-old but once inside she loved it!



Visitors are greeted by a wealth of artefacts, teeth, jawbones and rare fossils, some aged up to 370 million years old.

My children's favourite part was 'the movies' as they called it. These movies were, in fact, a walk-through project gallery where you see the wonders of the ocean in stunning clarity. They thought it was a disco, with all the colourful, sparkling marine projections.



They also loved the interactive screens, which allow visitors to select a shark species and learn all there is to know. You can make your shark swim, flip your shark and even see him roll.

I found it fascinating to read more about the megalodon, an extinct species of shark that was the biggest to ever live, and see it come to life on the screen.



Another interactive feature specifically aimed at families is the 'fish tank', in which children (and I use the term 'children' loosely) can add their very own fish to the screen-based 'tank'.

They colour in and decorate their fish, scan it and there is the fish, swimming around on the screen! Between the three of us, we added about 15 fish to the tank. Hence why I used the term 'children' loosely. What a thrill to bring those fish to life!



The exhibit takes a look at the role of the media and pop culture in swaying our perceptions and misconceptions about sharks. While sharks are considered a 'deadly threat' to our oceans, more people are killed by cows, deer, coconuts and by taking selfies than by shark attack. Let that sink in for a minute.

You can read and see media clips and newspaper clippings and see the physical effects of a shark attack. Have a read and make up your own mind on this great debate.



My children were particularly fascinated with the giant shark cage. They would run in and out find it hilarious to pretend to be stuck behind the bars. It may be a bit of fun to them but the development of shark cages has been pivotal in understanding the shark as 'prey' themselves, as opposed to a 'man-killer.'



Australian man Rodney Fox , himself a shark attack survivor, developed a shark cage in the 1960s, and despite his own shark attack, helped shape wider opinions about sharks with his shark cage.

Rodney was later involved in aiding the Steven Spielberg himself in filming the underwater footage used in the best ocean-predator movie of our generation: JAWS.



Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for concessions, $12.50 for kids aged between 5-15 years and free for carers and kids under 5 years.

Your ticket to Planet Shark: Predator or Prey also gives you entry into the WA Maritime Museum's permanent exhibitions, so be sure to take advantage and take a look into Western Australia's rich maritime history.



'Planet Shark: Predator or Prey' is an engaging, interactive exhibit for people of all ages. It is fascinating insight into the history and life of sharks for children and adults alike and is a must-see for anyone keen to challenge their own preconceived ideas about this misunderstood ocean creature.

#exhibitions
#family
#fremantle
#greater_fremantle
#museums
#school_holidays
#southern_suburbs
#july
#august
#september
#october
#november
!date 06/07/2019 -- 10/11/2019
%wnperth
105833 - 2023-06-12 12:07:50

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