Busan shark keeps circling back to canal after rescue effort

A shark that rescuers guided out of a canal in Busan, South Korea, has repeatedly circled back towards the waterway, despite barriers being strengthened to keep it out, authorities say.

The three-metre dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, became a local attraction after appearing in the canal last month. A rescue operation on Wednesday lasted more than eight hours as workers used a net to guide it towards open water in a harbour. Hundreds of spectators watched from a nearby park.

By Thursday morning, the shark had reportedly broken through a barrier and returned to the canal, where it became trapped between two layers of nets. Rescuers freed it by removing the outer layer and reinforced the remaining barrier. Authorities said it had since moved further out, but kept turning back towards the canal’s entrance.

A government official told the BBC that rescuers had ended their efforts to free the shark. Authorities said they were concerned about its condition: it appeared injured and was not eating. Videos shared on social media seemed to show blood around its snout, while falling water temperatures raised concerns it could become weaker.

Two earlier attempts to guide Bukangi out with nets had failed. The BBC reported that residents were divided over whether it should remain in the canal or return to the sea. Some feared it could be harmed by the nets or in open water; others worried that staying in the canal was damaging its health.

The shark’s arrival has also drawn visitors and boosted tourism in Busan. The BBC reported that it had attracted more than 1.6 million visitors during its month in the canal. Authorities believe unusually warm water and an abundance of fish may have drawn it there, while experts say warming seas could mean more sharks visit the area in future.