Busan authorities guide shark out of canal on third attempt

Authorities in the southeastern port city of Busan successfully navigated a shark out of a city canal for the third time on Wednesday, after the marine creature had been trapped there for over a month. The shark, christened Bukang-i, was first observed in the canal on September 18. Since its arrival, the canal park has transformed into a popular attraction, attracting more than 1.6 million visitors as of Sunday.

A collaborative rescue mission was carried out by a team comprising municipal and Coast Guard officials. They employed a net attached to a pontoon, a flat floating platform, to guide the shark out of the canal at Busan's North Port, situated approximately 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The operation commenced around 10 a.m., with the team steering the shark towards Marina Bridge using the net.

The shark, which had been swimming close to the bridge, was observed in waters beyond the canal near a pier at around 6 p.m., indicating that Bukang-i had left the canal, at least temporarily.

Despite this positive development, authorities emphasize that the waters near the pier do not qualify as open sea. They express optimism that the shark will eventually venture into open waters. Following the successful rescue, there is hope that Bukang-i will continue its journey towards the open ocean.