South Korea Canal Shark Bukangi Lingers Near Waterway
A famed 3-metre dusky shark named Bukangi, a tourism sensation in Busan, South Korea, continues to circle near a canal despite rescue operations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A 3-metre dusky shark named Bukangi has become an unofficial mascot and tourism boost in Busan, South Korea.
- Rescue workers spent over eight hours guiding the shark out of the canal using nets on Wednesday.
- The shark drew more than 1.6 million visitors during its one-month stay in the urban waterway.
- Experts warn that warming sea temperatures may lead to more shark appearances in Busan in the future.
A famous dusky shark in South Korea continues to linger near a canal it was successfully guided out of earlier this week. The shark, affectionately nicknamed Bukangi, turned into an unexpected sensation after being spotted swimming through a waterway in the southeastern port city of Busan last month, prompting weeks of unsuccessful rescue attempts by authorities using large nets.
On Thursday, local authorities reinforced barriers to block Bukangi from returning to the canal. However, the shark has yet to venture out into the open sea, repeatedly circling back to the mouth of the waterway instead. During a livestreamed operation on Wednesday, rescue workers spent over eight hours delicately steering the 3-metre, or 10-foot, shark toward open harbour waters using a net, as hundreds of cheering fans gathered at a park overlooking the canal to bid it farewell.
However, by Thursday morning, Bukangi managed to breach a newly installed barrier and swam right back into the canal. It became trapped in a tight space between two layers of netting before rescuers removed the outer layer and fortified the remaining barrier. Authorities officially concluded their rescue operations on Thursday afternoon after observing that the shark kept circling back despite swimming further out.
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Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Experts believe unseasonably warm waters and an abundance of fish may have drawn Bukangi into the canal in the first place. With ocean temperatures rising annually, marine specialists warn that Busan may encounter similar marine wildlife events in the future. During its month-long residency, Bukangi attracted over 1.6 million visitors, serving as an unofficial mascot and providing a welcome boost to local tourism in Busan.
The presence of a marine predator in an urban canal highlights the growing impact of rising ocean temperatures on marine ecosystems, forcing wildlife into closer contact with human environments and presenting local authorities with complex wildlife management challenges.
Public reaction in Busan remained divided regarding the shark's removal. While some residents held up protest signs advocating for the animal to stay, citing it as a rare gift to the city, others like Yoon In-taek expressed sadness over its departure while acknowledging that returning to the open sea is ultimately best for the animal's natural life.
Source: BBC World
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