Mom Irate Over Shark Toy

An irate mother in New Zealand has bitten back at shops for selling a “shark ship” that encourages children to fire a plastic harpoon into the head of an oversized shark.

Louise Pearse saw the Mega Rig Shark Ship advertised in a catalogue delivered to her home over the weekend.

Mrs. Pearse believes the toy, made by Mattel, is simply a whaling ship in shark’s clothing.

“What are we going to get next? The Battered Seal Kit with realistic blood that squirts out when you hit it with a baseball bat?”

“It is disgusting and horrible because whaling is wrong,” Zoe said. “Having a shark there was not nice either and I can’t imagine who would want to play with it.”

The shark toy – made in China for children aged from four – apparently swims against the legislative current that saw the Government pass legislation last year to protect the threatened great white shark in New Zealand waters.

Forest and Bird spokeswoman Kirstie Knowles said the toy was “shameful” and went against a strong anti-whaling stance held by many in New Zealand.

Toyworld Megastore franchise owner Phillip Bramley said the mailer was put together in good faith and that they took the lady’s concerns seriously but need to dig into it more before commenting.

[source]