RismadarVoice Reporters
October 22, 2026
Authorities in Busan, South Korea, are preparing another rescue operation for a large female dusky shark that returned to a narrow canal shortly after being guided towards open water.
The shark, nicknamed Bukangi, measures approximately three metres (9.8 feet) in length and has remained in the waterway for about a month, attracting considerable public attention.
On Wednesday, rescue workers used a floating platform and barriers to direct the animal towards the sea after previous attempts to free it proved unsuccessful.
However, the shark returned to the canal later that night, passing beneath a barrier net and prompting officials to reconsider their rescue strategy.
Authorities said Bukangi is now swimming between two nets positioned near the canal entrance, restricting its movement while rescue teams assess alternative methods of guiding it safely into open water.
Officials from Busan and South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries expressed concern about the shark’s condition, particularly its prolonged stay in the confined waterway.
They said there had been no clear evidence that the animal was feeding regularly, while falling water temperatures could pose additional risks to its health.
Lee Gwang-seok, an official with the ministry, explained that the shark was unlikely to swim farther into the canal because of the narrow space between the barriers.
Bukangi was first spotted in mid-September near Busan’s North Port, from which its nickname was derived.
Since then, the shark has become an unusual attraction, with city officials reporting that more than 1.7 million visitors have travelled to the area to see it.
Hundreds of spectators also gathered on Wednesday to watch the latest rescue attempt.
Earlier operations conducted on September 29 and October 2 involved boats, water sprays and nets designed to encourage the shark to move towards the sea.
Those efforts failed after the animal avoided the boats and managed to cross the barriers.
The latest operation marked the third unsuccessful attempt to secure the shark’s departure from the canal.
Authorities are now examining additional rescue techniques intended to minimise stress and prevent injury to the animal.
As of Thursday, October 22, officials had not announced a date for the next operation.
The priority, according to the authorities, remains ensuring that Bukangi can safely return to open water before its prolonged confinement causes further health complications.
