In brief
Bukangi the shark, which has taken up residence in a Busan canal, has lured tourists and media to the waterfront, becoming a local celebrity. Rescue teams have spent eight hours nudging the animal into harbour water, only to see it return after breaking a barrier. Efforts to keep it out of the canal have intensified, yet the shark keeps circling back to the mouth of the waterway. Scientists warn that warmer seas may bring more of these creatures to Korean ports, while officials say the operations are now concluded. The sticky situation highlights both wildlife protection and the power of viral tourism.
Breathtaking footage on Thursday showed a three‑metre (10‑ft) dusky shark—now nicknamed Bukangi—circling a mouthful of a Canal in Busan, the southeastern port city of South Korea. The creature’s stubborn refusal to head out to sea has kept crowds gathered on the riverbank, turning the spectacle into a media frenzy.
Rescue workers, assisted by a locally‑made net system, spent more than eight hours pulling the shark into the harbour for that first attempt. Although the vessel did leave the canal, it broke through a recently erected barrier and slipped back into the channel, forcing authorities to fortify the remaining layers of nets.
The operation, livestreamed by local channels, drew an estimated 1.6 million viewers and boosted Busan’s tourism numbers. Yet experts remain concerned about the animal’s welfare; videos have shown a blood‑streaked snout and a lethargic pace that raise doubts about her health in the warm waters.
Officials say the rescue tasks have concluded, though Bukangi continues to circle the canal’s mouth every few hours. “We’ve installed stronger barriers, but the shark keeps trying to slip back in,” a spokesperson told the BBC. Scientists warn that the warming Pacific could bring more such marine visitors to Korean coasts.
While some locals have embraced Bukangi as an unofficial mascot, others question the ethics of keeping a wild creature so close to a busy urban waterfront. The situation remains open to debate as authorities decide whether to release the shark for good or keep vigil over the canal’s two‑way traffic.
