Busan Authorities Scramble to Rescue ‘Bukangi’ After Shark Returns to Canal
Busan officials are launching a new rescue mission for Bukangi, a 9.8-foot dusky shark that returned to a South Korean canal after a failed liberation.
POLICY WIRE — Busan, South Korea — Authorities in the port city of Busan are currently strategizing a fresh approach to extract a massive dusky shark from a confined canal. The animal, affectionately dubbed Bukangi, managed to navigate back into the waterway just hours after workers successfully herded it out following weeks of difficult attempts.
Officials from the Busan municipal government and the national Oceans and Fisheries Ministry have prioritized the shark’s health and safety, emphasizing the urgent need to return the creature to the open ocean. The previous rescue operation on Wednesday utilized a floating platform and dozens of personnel to guide the 9.8-foot female shark toward the exit.
Despite the effort, the shark slipped beneath an outer barrier net during the night and returned to the canal. It is currently trapped between that initial net and a secondary barrier located 55 yards into the canal’s mouth, where it remains under observation by inspectors.
Lee Gwang-seok, a representative for the Oceans and Fisheries Ministry, noted that the density of the current barriers and the narrowness of the channel make it unlikely the shark will travel further upstream. Experts remain concerned about the animal’s well-being, as there is no evidence it has been feeding during its monthlong residency, and dropping water temperatures present a growing health risk.
Since its initial appearance in the North Port in mid-September, the shark has become an unexpected local celebrity. Busan officials even designated the animal as a city mascot, drawing over 1.7 million visitors to the site, with hundreds gathering to observe Wednesday’s rescue attempt.
This week’s operation marked the third failed attempt to relocate the shark, following previous efforts on Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 that utilized water-spraying boats and netting. In those instances, the shark successfully evaded the vessels and swam over the barriers. Local authorities have not yet announced a timeline for the next phase of the rescue.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
