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Shark Returns to Canal After Failed Rescue Attempt
· Confirmed
In Short: A famed dusky shark named Bukang-i returned to a South Korean canal after a failed rescue attempt.
A famed dusky shark named Bukang-i returned to a South Korean canal after a failed rescue attempt, according to reports from BBC (United Kingdom) and The Korea Times (Korea, Republic of).
The shark, first spotted in the canal on September 18, had been the subject of intense public interest, drawing over 1.6 million visitors to the park in Busan, as reported by both outlets.
According to BBC (United Kingdom), the rescue team had attempted to guide the shark out of the canal on October 21, but the shark managed to swim beneath the outer net and re-enter the canal.
The Korea Times (Korea, Republic of) reported that some visitors had seen the shark swimming back in the canal around 11 p.m. on the same day.
Both BBC (United Kingdom) and The Korea Times (Korea, Republic of) noted that the shark had not been seen eating for the entire month it was stuck in the canal, raising concerns about its health.
The rescue team had stopped the net about 60 meters short of the canal exit due to the deeper water, making it difficult to move the net along the seabed without leaving gaps, as reported by The Independent (United Kingdom).
Despite the failed rescue attempt, the shark's return to the canal highlights the challenges faced by authorities in safely guiding the animal back to open waters.
The shark's nickname, Bukang-i, combines the Korean name for the North Port of Busan, “Bukhang,” and the suffix “-i,” as noted by Asianews (Korea, Republic of).
The shark's presence had drawn significant attention, with visitors expressing both fascination and concern for the animal's well-being.
While the exact details of the rescue attempt and the shark's movements may differ slightly between reports, all outlets agree that the shark returned to the canal after a failed attempt to guide it to open waters.
The incident underscores the complex and often unpredictable nature of wildlife rescue operations, particularly when dealing with large marine animals in urban environments.
What this adds
The sources have not established the exact reason for the shark's return or the long-term impact on its health.
What's confirmed
- Nicknamed Bukang-i by fans, the 3-metre-long (9.8-foot) female dusky shark was first spotted in the waterway on 18 September.
What's still developing
- In recent weeks, more than 1.6 million visitors have descended upon a park in Busan to catch a glimpse of Bukangi, named after the canal in which she was spotted.
- “The shark is now between the outer net and an inner net installed 30 to 40 metres... further inside the canal,” an oceans ministry official told AFP.
- However, the shark swam beneath the outer net and passed under the pontoon to get back inside, according to the oceans and fisheries ministry.
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