A shark named 'Bukan,' which had been residing in an artificial canal at Busan North Port for over a month, has returned to swim around the canal area after being guided back to the sea by authorities. Officials have decided to stop further guidance efforts and are waiting for Bukan to migrate naturally to deeper waters.
According to Yonhap News on the 23rd, Bukan was spotted swimming in the canal near the Marina Bridge at Busan North Port on the morning of that day. It was observed moving around a barrier set up about 90 meters inside the canal's exit.
Previously, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Busan city government conducted a third guidance operation on the 21st, successfully leading Bukan out of the canal for the first time since it was discovered on September 18, a span of 33 days.
However, Bukan re-entered the canal through a gap under the barrier set up at the entrance between 11 p.m. and midnight on the same day. After being blocked by a second barrier, it became confined to a narrow space. In response, authorities removed the first barrier the day before and installed a double net at the location of the existing second barrier. A floating facility known as a 'pontoon' was also deployed above the net.
After the barrier adjustments, Bukan was again observed outside the canal, swimming in the waters off the first pier of the North Port. It was noted that Bukan had expanded its activity range, including diving below the surface for a period. However, it continues to circle around the barrier between the canal and the open sea.
Authorities believe Bukan is in the process of adapting to the new environment outside the canal. Therefore, they will not conduct additional guidance operations for the time being and will monitor the situation to allow Bukan to move naturally to deeper waters.
Concerns about Bukan's health remain. The approximately 3-meter-long female blacktip shark has been observed with injuries on various parts of its body, including its snout and fins, likely caused by scraping against the hard structures of the canal during its month-long confinement.
Experts warn that as water temperatures gradually decrease, Bukan's continued stay in the canal could worsen its health or lead to mortality. However, they believe that if given sufficient time to adapt to the environment outside the canal, Bukan may eventually migrate to deeper waters.
Public opinion on Bukan's movements is divided. Some citizens oppose artificial guidance efforts, and a petition has been posted on the government's online petition system 'Cheongwon24' requesting a halt to Bukan's 'forced eviction.'
Conversely, there are questions about the appropriateness of the administrative resources being used for repeated guidance operations.
Concerns about public safety have also arisen. It has been reported that some citizens climbed onto the floating facility set up above the barrier to prevent Bukan from re-entering the canal. Authorities are considering measures to restrict access around the barrier, as a fall into the canal where the shark is present could lead to serious accidents.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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