Shark 'Bukang-i' guided out of canal but keeps returning to barrier

Bukang-i, a shark that spent more than a month in the artificial canal of Busan's North Port waterfront park, is still hovering near the canal after authorities guided it out.

The shark was spotted swimming in the canal near the Marina Bridge at North Port waterfront park Friday morning.

It was seen circling a barrier that authorities had installed about 90 meters inside the canal's entrance.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Busan city and other relevant agencies completed a third round of guidance operations that pushed Bukang-i out of the canal. That night, between 11 p.m. and midnight, the shark squeezed through a gap beneath the barrier and re-entered, only to be blocked by a second barrier.

Finding the shark trapped in a narrow space, authorities removed the first barrier Thursday and installed a double net where the second barrier had been. A pontoon — a floating platform used for water-based work — was placed on top.

Bukang-i then moved back out of the canal and was spotted in the waters off North Port's Pier 1, where it stayed submerged for an extended period and appeared to be expanding its range.

The shark has since shown a pattern of diving outside the canal, re-entering to circle near the barrier, then heading back out again.

Authorities believe Bukang-i is adapting to its new environment and have decided to suspend further guidance operations, waiting for it to make its way to open water on its own.

Experts warn that water temperatures in the canal are dropping, and that the shark's risk of death will grow if it continues to stay inside.

Bukang-i, a large shark measuring 3 meters in length, has spent more than a month in the narrow, shallow canal, and injuries have been observed on its snout, fins and other parts of its body — likely caused by scraping against the bottom or concrete walls.

Experts expect that if given time to adjust to the environment outside the canal, the shark will naturally make its way out to sea.

Some residents have pushed back, questioning whether it was appropriate to forcibly remove Bukang-i from the canal in the first place.

A petition opposing the shark's "forced eviction" was also posted on Cheongwon 24, the government's online petition platform.

Others have raised a different concern, questioning whether it is a waste of administrative resources to mobilize over the potential death of a single shark.

Some residents were reported to have climbed onto the pontoon holding the barrier meant to prevent Bukang-i from re-entering the canal the previous night.

Authorities are reviewing measures to restrict access to the barrier, given the extreme danger posed to anyone who falls into a canal frequented by an aggressive shark.