A graphic video showing a pregnant shark being cut open, while still alive, has been circulating the internet. 

The video shows beachgoers at Christchurch's New Brighton Beach carrying dozens of baby sharks from the mother's stomach back into the ocean. 

Shark scientist Dr Riley Elliott told Tim Dower that there’s a bigger message here. 

He said that instead of targeting certain people for certain things, the bigger picture, holistic understanding of nature, of our environment is a bigger lesson to be learned. 

Elliott said that what upset him about this video was the fact that no one in that crowd pointed out the obvious that the shark was still alive, everyone was focused instead on the instant gratification of rescuing the babies. 

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• 'Fish can't scream': Pregnant shark dragged to shore, cut open while still alive