South Korean authorities struggle to relocate trapped shark in Busan

South Korean authorities have been engaged in a prolonged effort to relocate a 3.5-meter dusky shark, named Bukangi, from a man-made canal in Busan. Since being spotted in September, the shark has attracted significant public attention, drawing over 160,000 visitors to the area. Experts, including Professor Kim Jin-koo from Pukyong National University, suggest the shark entered the coastal waters due to rising sea temperatures, which are now dropping as winter approaches, threatening the tropical species' survival.

Two initial rescue attempts using nets and water jets failed, and a third, successful relocation effort took place on October 21. During this operation, the shark was guided out of the canal using buoyant nets. However, only hours later, the animal swam under the barrier and returned to the canal, where it is currently positioned between an outer and inner net system installed 30 to 40 meters from the entrance. The Ministry of Oceans is monitoring the situation, noting that the animal has sustained minor injuries from brushing against the canal walls and has shown no signs of feeding, prompting urgent concerns for its health as temperatures continue to fall.