Houston Museum of Natural Science's Temple on upcoming exhibit: 'We hope that our guests are able to explore the misconceptions, mysteries and mystique of sharks'

The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) will host an exhibit that looks to debunk the misconception that sharks are bloodthirsty creatures who prey on swimmers a la a famous Chondrichthyes-themed movie from the 1970s, according to a report from Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.

Per KPRC, shark attacks rarely happen unless the creature is provoked, with the HMNS adding the odds of a beachgoer earning the ire of a shark being 1 in 264,000,000. 

It’s the mission of “Sharks! The Meg, The Monsters and The Myths,” which is slated to open on May 27, to instill a new understanding of the creatures in people. 

“Sharks are remarkably diverse and efficient predators but are more threatened than threatening,” the museum’s vice president of education and exhibit curator said in a statement obtained by KPRC. “With this exhibition, we hope that our guests are able to explore the misconceptions, mysteries and mystique of sharks to help pave the way for conservation efforts, as well as explore their unique adaptations and behaviors that continue to inspire scientific innovation around the world.”

The station reported that the exhibit consists of life-sized models, tanks and interactive displays, in addition to extinction warnings. 

Per the HMNS, tickets are currently on sale, with Novum Energy and The J.W. Couch Foundation serving as sponsors. 

Prospective attendees are warned by the museum not to use flash photography “to preserve our collections for the next generation.” 

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), sharks have existed for 400 million years, outliving the dinosaurs and numerous other life forms presently on the planet. 

With over 1,000 species of sharks and rays, the nonprofit organization said on its website, new species are discovered annually. 

“These majestic top predators that are so essential to the natural order of marine ecosystems now face their most severe threat from overfishing,” the WWF said. “Many species are threatened with extinction … While sharks and rays have been an irreplaceable resource for coastal communities in the developing world for centuries, this unique balance is in danger of being lost forever.”