UNCW performs necropsy on great white shark

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW professors and students gathered this afternoon to conduct a necropsy on a great white that washed ashore in Wrightsville Beach Monday.

Before they began, lots of people came to check it out and snap some photos.

Marine biology professor Ann Pabst said, “The animal is over three meters long so that like 12 to 13 feet long it weights over 330 kilograms so that’s a very large animal.”

A large shark that was easily spotted near the Crystal Pier.

“It is a very rare opportunity and this is finals week at UNCW,” said Pabst. “Students are not able to take time off of their finals or time for studying but in between that time they can come and learn about a species perhaps they have learned about in their classroom but never had the opportunity to see here.”

For some students, whether they had a final or not they were coming.

“I have an 8am final tomorrow but this was way cool,” said Katy Nickel. “It is like a once in a lifetime thing so we are here.”

Student Sam Athey said, “I actually delayed going home because I am done with my finals but I was like no I have to stay for this.”

Students crowded around Oriole Burevitch Laboratory trying snap a one of a kind photo.

It was an experience so unique for everyone at the university.

“We just feel lucky that we are in a place that this kind of thing can happen,” said Pabst. “It can happen and student across the campus can get involved.”

Pabst says the necropsy would take hours since the animal is so large and they want to be very detailed during the process.