Bukhang-i the shark returns to inner harbor after slipping through barrier net

Bukhang-i, the shark that authorities had guided out to the outer harbor, squeezed back through a gap in a barrier net and returned to the inner harbor. Authorities said they plan to resume efforts to steer the shark back out to sea.

The shark was spotted Thursday morning swimming in the waterway inside the Marina Bridge at the waterfront park, surfacing roughly every minute.

The location is inside the first barrier net that authorities had installed to prevent Bukhang-i from re-entering the channel. The net had been secured beneath a pontoon, a floating platform used for water-based operations.

Authorities believe the shark found a gap at the bottom of the net and forced its way through.

On Wednesday, authorities drove Bukhang-i as far as the area near Marina Bridge and installed the first barrier net at that point — about 50 to 60 meters inside the channel entrance.

The shark was subsequently spotted in the waters off Pier 1, outside the channel, suggesting it had initially left. Bukhang-i was then seen lingering near the first barrier net, apparently attempting to re-enter.

Now inside the first barrier net, the shark is blocked by a second barrier net roughly 30 meters away, leaving it confined to a narrow stretch of water.

Authorities plan to resume guiding operations Thursday. The plan calls for removing the first barrier net to open an escape route, then using nets to push the shark toward the exit.

Depending on conditions at the scene, officials are also considering installing a new barrier net closer to the channel entrance than the previous one.