South Korean Officials Struggle to Free Shark Trapped in Busan Canal

SEOUL, South Korea -- Officials in the South Korean port city of Busan are continuing efforts to free a large gray shark that has been trapped in a canal for more than a month. The 3-meter-long (9.8-foot) female dusky shark, affectionately nicknamed Bukangi after the Korean name for Busan’s North Port, has become a significant tourist attraction since its initial sighting in mid-September.

Wednesday marked the third attempt by officials to guide Bukangi back to the open sea. The operation involved using a large floating platform to carefully herd the shark through the narrow waterway. Workers on the platform used oars to steer Bukangi away from the canal banks, while dozens of others on shore managed the ropes to propel the structure forward. Hundreds of onlookers lined the canal to observe the unusual rescue.

Previous attempts on September 29 and October 2 proved unsuccessful. Those efforts included using boats that sprayed streams of water and nets placed across the canal, but the shark managed to evade the measures. During Wednesday’s operation, additional netting was placed near the canal's mouth to prevent the shark from retreating.

Despite the extensive efforts, by evening, the shark remained near the mouth of the canal and had not yet returned to the open sea. Busan officials, who had designated Bukangi as a city mascot, reported that the shark had drawn more than 1.6 million visitors to the canal area.

Concerns have been raised by experts regarding Bukangi's health. The shark has shown no signs of feeding during its month-long confinement and faces the additional risk of falling water temperatures.

Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo expressed the city's commitment to the shark's safe return to nature, stating on Facebook that Bukangi had become a symbol of Busan and "a friend to the entire country."