11.48-Foot Shark Trapped in Busan Canal Turns Into Major Tourist Attraction

A shark stranded in a canal at the South Korean port city of Busan has become an unexpected national wildlife sensation, attracting around 6,00,000 visitors over the past two weeks.
The 3.5-metre (11.48-foot) shark was first spotted on September 18 in a narrow waterway at Busan's North Port. Despite remaining in the canal for days, the shark was unable to find its way back to the open sea.
Authorities launched a rescue operation on Tuesday in an attempt to guide the animal toward the ocean. The Coast Guard and other agencies used vessels to spray jets of water behind the shark, hoping the streams would gently push it toward open waters. However, the shark moved away from the water streams, and the operation was unsuccessful, according to videos published by Yonhap News Television.
Officials are now planning another attempt using a net on Friday to guide the shark out of the canal, the Chosun Daily reported.
The shark, which has been reported to be a bronze whaler, has gained considerable public attention and has been given the nickname “Bukangi.” The name is derived from “Buk Hang”, the Korean name for Busan's North Port, along with the Korean suffix “-i”.
The unusual visitor has also brought a sharp increase in footfall at the waterfront park where the shark remains stranded. During the four-day Chuseok holiday last weekend, around 4,80,000 people visited the park, compared with its usual weekend daily average of approximately 2,000 visitors, according to a Busan city statement and media reports.
The shark's popularity has now extended beyond public curiosity. On Tuesday, the city of Busan declared it an honorary public relations ambassador after a poll conducted through the city's official Instagram account received 91 per cent approval from around 8,000 participants.
South Korea has witnessed other unusual animal-related incidents attracting widespread public attention. Earlier this year, a wolf that escaped from its enclosure at a South Korean zoo became the inspiration for a cryptocurrency meme coin and even prompted a message of concern from the country's president.