A large grey shark trapped in a canal in South Korea’s port city of Busan has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, turning the animal into an unexpected local sensation.
The shark, nicknamed “Bukanggi,” was first spotted on September 18 in the North Port area of Busan. Measuring about 3.5 metres in length, it has remained in the canal for nearly two weeks, drawing widespread attention on social media and prompting large crowds to gather along the waterfront.
Authorities launched an operation on Tuesday to return the shark to the open sea, using five boats to direct streams of water toward it and encourage it to move out of the canal.
The effort attracted a large crowd, while the operation was also livestreamed on YouTube. However, after several hours, officials called off the attempt as the shark repeatedly swam past the boats or dived underwater to avoid them.
Busan city official Kim Won-ho said another rescue attempt could be made by Friday, with authorities adjusting their strategy according to conditions at the site.
South Korea’s National Institute of Fisheries Science is preparing a specially designed net measuring at least 50 metres long. Boats will stretch the net across the canal to guide the shark towards an exit, while another vessel will use water jets from behind to encourage it to move in the desired direction.
Officials said there were no clear signs that the shark’s health had deteriorated as a result of being trapped in the canal. However, experts stressed the importance of returning it to the open sea as soon as possible for its longer-term health and safety.
According to Busan city authorities, around 600,000 people had visited North Port to see the shark since September 19. About 500,000 visitors reportedly came during last week’s Chuseok holiday, one of South Korea’s major annual festivals.
Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo said in a statement that the public’s interest and affection had naturally made Bukanggi a new part of the city’s story.
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