Bukangi Returns to Busan Canal After Rescue Attempt

A dusky shark that attracted more than 1.6 million visitors to Busan, South Korea, returned to the canal where it had been trapped for over a month after authorities guided it toward open water on October 21, according to reports by BBC and The Guardian. Officials launched another rescue operation on Thursday, October 22, after the female shark, nicknamed Bukangi, apparently crossed a barrier and swam back into the waterway.

The approximately 10-foot-long shark was first spotted on September 18 in a canal near Busan's North Port. According to NBC News, the rescue effort involved a floating platform, ropes and nets used to guide the animal toward the harbor entrance. Hundreds of spectators watched as workers maneuvered the structure through the narrow canal.

South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday that the shark had been guided into an open harbor. However, subsequent reports indicated that it had returned to the canal overnight. An oceans ministry official told AFP, as cited by The Guardian, that the shark was between an outer net and an inner net installed farther inside the canal.

The renewed operation followed two unsuccessful attempts on September 29 and October 2. Authorities initially used boats and water jets, but the shark moved away from the vessels. During the second attempt, a net became tangled on the canal bed, allowing the animal to swim over it, according to reports from The New York Times and NBC News.

Wednesday's rescue took several hours, with reports indicating that workers pushed a floating platform approximately one kilometer toward the canal mouth. Additional netting was installed to discourage the shark from returning. Divers also monitored the operation to prevent the animal from becoming entangled in equipment.

Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo acknowledged the public's interest in the shark after the initial rescue attempt appeared successful. In a statement on Facebook, he wrote:

"We will never forget the great interest people have shown for Bukangi and Busan’s waters," Chun Jae-soo said. "We hope Bukangi can live a healthy life in the blue sea."

The mayor's statement reflected the attention the animal had received since its discovery. According to NBC News, city officials said Bukangi attracted more than 1.7 million visitors and designated the shark a city mascot. Other reports described its popularity as a boost for local tourism, with nearby businesses benefiting from the crowds.

Despite the public enthusiasm, researchers expressed concern about the shark's health. According to The New York Times and NBC News, the animal had shown no clear signs of feeding during its prolonged stay in the canal. Experts also warned that declining water temperatures could threaten its survival as November approached.

Bukangi's appearance has also drawn attention to changing marine conditions around South Korea. The Guardian reported that environmental groups linked the shark's presence to warming seas, which can shift the distribution of fish and other marine species. South Korea's fisheries institute recorded 46 large sharks off the country's east coast during the first half of 2026, nearly four times the number recorded during the same period a year earlier, attributing the increase to warmer waters and greater availability of prey.

As of Thursday morning, October 22, authorities were attempting to guide Bukangi out of the canal again. Officials had not confirmed that the shark had reached the open sea following the previous day's operation.