An oil spill occurred near the artificial waterway at Busan's North Port waterfront park, where the dolphin known as 'Bukan-i' had been residing.
According to Yonhap News and the Busan Coast Guard, reports of the oil spill were received around noon on October 23, near the exit of the marina bridge in the artificial waterway. The coast guard dispatched personnel to the scene.
The spill has formed an oil slick measuring approximately 10 meters wide and 30 meters long. Coast guard officials have begun cleanup operations using specialized vessels.
Bukan-i was spotted earlier in the day inside the waterway but has not been seen for the past four to five hours.
Having stayed in the waterway for over a month, Bukan-i had ventured outside on October 21 during a third attempt by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Busan city officials to guide it back to the open sea. However, it returned late at night after slipping through a gap in the barriers set up by authorities.
The following day, authorities installed a second barrier with two types of nets and removed the first barrier that Bukan-i had breached.
Since then, Bukan-i has been observed swimming outside the waterway, expanding its range of movement in the waters off North Port's first dock.
Authorities believe Bukan-i is adapting to its new environment and are waiting for it to venture back into the open sea.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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