A five-foot long shark will live to bite another day after a vet at Sydney's Taronga Zoo reached into its stomach to dislodge a rusty fishing hook.

　　The female wobbegong shark was discovered at Sydney's fish markets and sent to the city's aquarium.

　　Staff there inspected the shark and discovered the hook with a snapper fish - the shark's last meal - still attached to it.

　　Aquarium staff sent the shark to Tarongaswheresvet Julie Barnes performed the operation to remove the hook.

　　Once the wobbegong was anesthetised, Ms Barnes used a length of plastic pipe as a safety sleeve against the shark''s razor-like teeth, and then thrust her armsintosits mouth to remove the fishhook.

　　The shark was returned to the aquarium after the operationswheresit will convalesce before a decision is taken whether to return it to the wild.

　　Wobbegong sharks are found around Australia and the coastal reefs of the Pacific. They are generally placid, lazing on the ocean bed waiting to feed on passing fish.