In brief
Bukangi, a reed shark that entered Busan’s canal last month, drew crowds while experts struggled to free it. A livestreamed rescue on Wednesday saw volunteers use a large net to escort the three‑metre animal outside, but the shark swam back into the channel after a barrier was breached. Officials have since reinforced the guard nets, yet the creature keeps circling the mouth of the waterway. While some residents walled up the shark in the city as a local mascot, others argued it should remain in open waters for safety. The episode has amplified concerns about rising sea temperatures attracting more sharks to Korean ports.
Celebrity shark Bukangi stays in Busan canal, defying escort attempts.
A dusky shark, about 10 ft long, made headlines after it wandered into a canal in the southeastern port city of Busan. Residents and tourists lined the riverbanks, cheering as one week of net‑based operations finally shepherded the creature into the harbor on a livestreamed rescue that lasted more than eight hours.
But the following morning, Bukangi broke through a new barrier and retreated back into the canal, circling the mouth of the waterway for the first time since the rescue.
Reinforced nets have been added to block a return, yet the shark continues to drift close to the opening. Officials say they have ended active attempts, but the dol‑shape’s future now depends on the city’s decision to keep it in shallow waters or release it into open seas.
Local opinions split: some see the beast as a mascot that has attracted 1.6 million visitors and boosted tourism; others fear the animal’s health is declining after possible injuries and a lack of food in the canal.
With annual sea temperatures increasing, experts warn that Busan may welcome more sharks, raising questions about how coastal communities should manage wildlife that crosses human spaces.
