Famous Dusky Shark Lingers Near South Korean Canal After Rescue Effort

A famous dusky shark named Bukangi is still lingering near a canal in South Korea after rescuers guided her out on Wednesday. The three-metre-long shark became an unlikely sensation after she was spotted swimming in a canal in the south-eastern port city of Busan last month. For weeks, rescuers tried to get her back to the open sea using nets, following two earlier failed attempts.

The Rescue Operation

In a livestreamed operation on Wednesday, rescue workers took more than eight hours to delicately guide the shark with a net towards open water in a harbour. Hundreds of fans gathered at a park overlooking the canal to cheer and wave goodbye. However, on Thursday morning, Bukangi swam back into the canal after breaking through a barrier installed by authorities. Rescuers freed her from a tight space between two layers of nets, fortified the remaining barrier, and concluded their operations on Thursday afternoon.

Public Reaction

Bukangi attracted more than 1.6 million visitors during her month in the canal, boosting Busan's tourism and becoming an unofficial mascot. Residents and visitors were divided on her stay. Cho Hannah traveled two hours to protest the eviction, calling the shark a rare gift and expressing fear that she might die out at sea. In contrast, Yoon In-taek and Shin Seungmin worried for her health, noting she looked gaunt and hoping she would live a normal life in the open sea, despite bringing joy to the city.

Context

Marine experts suggest that unusually warm waters and plenty of fish may have drawn the shark to the canal in the first place. With ocean temperatures rising each year, coastal cities like Busan may see more marine animals wandering into urban waterways. Authorities had grown concerned for her health as she appeared injured with a bloodied snout, was not eating, and faced dropping water temperatures.