The 'Bukangyi' mascot, residing in Busan's North Port Waterfront Park, has been confirmed as the endangered black shark.
According to the National Fisheries Research Institute on October 6, the Bukangyi was first spotted on September 18 at the North Port Waterfront Park and was initially presumed to be a species of requiem shark or black shark.
After analyzing close-up footage, the institute confirmed the distinctive physical characteristics of the black shark, including a pronounced ridge between the first and second dorsal fins.
The black shark is a large species characterized by a broad, rounded snout, developed ridges between its dorsal fins, and triangular, serrated teeth on its upper jaw. At birth, it measures approximately 70 to 100 centimeters and can grow up to about 4.2 meters.
This species is widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate coastal waters around the world, including Korea's continental shelf, preferring water temperatures between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius and migrating long distances in response to temperature changes.
Its diet consists of fish and squid, but research on the feeding habits of black sharks in the North Pacific is still lacking. However, black sharks along the Australian coast are known to prey on mackerel, jack mackerel, and sardines. They are viviparous, giving birth to live young, and are a slow-growing and slow-reproducing species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as endangered (EN) due to declining populations.
In South Korea, the black shark was previously recognized as the same species as the requiem shark until it was reported as an unrecorded species in 2019. Since then, sightings have been confirmed along the entire coastline, including areas in Gyeongnam, Samcheok in Gangwon, Sinan in Jeonnam, Jeju, and near Busan.
Additionally, comparisons with nearby landmarks confirmed that the Bukangyi measures approximately 3 meters in length and has been identified as a female.
The Fisheries Research Institute plans to continuously monitor the Bukangyi's swimming behavior and health status, and will collaborate with relevant agencies, including Busan City, to respond to any unusual signs.
"The appearance of large sharks in our coastal waters has been consistently observed," said Kwon Soon-wook, head of the Fisheries Research Institute. "We will continue to monitor the presence of large shark species through bycatch surveys and strengthen related ecological research."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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