Busan shark Bukkangi crosses net, returns to waterway; rescue paused
In short
The shark nicknamed Bukkangi, believed to be a dusky shark about 3 m long, crossed a large net and returned to the artificial waterway at Busan's Bukhang Chinsu Park around noon on Oct 3, a day after a second attempt to guide it to open sea was halted. Authorities removed the net at about 16:20 and said they will not mount further rescue attempts for now, instead observing whether the shark leaves on its own. The shark has been in the waterway since Sept 18, and cumulative visitors to the park since then have passed 800,000, according to Asia Economy.
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The shark known as Bukkangi crossed a large net and returned to the inner waterway at Bukhang Chinsu Park in Dong-gu, Busan around noon on Oct 3, a day after authorities tried to herd it out to open sea, Yonhap reports carried by Asia Economy and CBS NoCut News said. Kukmin Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo also reported that the shark came back inside within a day. Authorities decided not to carry out further rescue work for the time being and to watch whether the shark moves to sea by itself, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Asia Economy and CBS NoCut News reported. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The second attempt began at about 15:40 on Oct 2 near the fourth footbridge, Hankook Ilbo reported. A joint rescue team from Busan city, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and the coast guard used a specially made net 50 m wide and 6.8 m tall, weighted along the bottom, with one vessel towing it from the centre, five people on each side of the waterside walkway holding its ends and a second vessel behind it. The net had to travel 400–500 m toward the sixth footbridge, which connects to open water, but caught on the waterway floor about 100 m short of it; authorities fixed the net in place at about 17:30 and stopped. An earlier attempt on Sept 29, using five vessels and water pumps, had also failed. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
The net was removed at about 16:20 on Oct 3 to leave a passage to open water, Asia Economy and CBS NoCut News reported. CBS NoCut News said the shark is presumed to have crossed through a gap above the net that formed as the tide rose. The National Institute of Fisheries Science will continue checking the shark's movement and condition and will discuss further measures with Busan city and other agencies if it shows abnormal behaviour, according to the outlet. Kyunghyang Shinmun said the open question was whether the shark will not leave or cannot leave. [ 5 , 7 , 8 ]
The shark was first seen in the waterway on Sept 18 and had stayed there more than 15 days, according to Hankook Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun. Hankook Ilbo reported more than 710,000 visitors to the park between Sept 18 and Oct 1, while Kyunghyang Shinmun put the figure at 717,800 between Sept 19 and Oct 1. Asia Economy reported about 52,000 visitors on Oct 3 by 18:00 and said cumulative visits since the shark appeared passed 800,000. A National Institute of Fisheries Science official told Hankook Ilbo that the shallow waterway cools quickly and that the warm-water dusky shark should move to warmer southern seas before temperatures fall further. Busan city said it plans to file a trademark application for the name Bukkangi, judging that the name itself should become a public promotional asset. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
Separately, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok wrote on Facebook on Oct 3 that Bukkangi had “raised interest in Bukhang, goodwill toward sharks, attention to the sea and the value of the Bukhang park,” and said the interest gathered at Bukhang should be carried on to the Dome Arena. He described the dome stadium as a pledge of Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo and a position he has held since the last general election, and also referred to Budget and Accounts Committee chairman Lee Kwang-jae. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Mayor Jeon had made construction of the Bukhang dome stadium a key pledge. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
Two failed rescue attempts leave an animal in a shallow waterway that a fisheries official says cools quickly, with experts warning of a risk of death if it does not move to warmer southern seas. At the same time the shark has drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors, and the interest is being tied to Busan's Bukhang redevelopment plans, including a proposed dome arena, and to a trademark filing by the city.
Key facts
- The shark, called Bukkangi, is estimated at about 3 m long and believed to be a dusky shark; it was first seen in the artificial waterway at Bukhang Chinsu Park in Dong-gu, Busan on Sept 18. [ 2 , 5 ]
- A first rescue attempt on Sept 29 using five vessels and water pumps failed to move the shark out of the waterway. [ 2 , 5 ]
- A second attempt on Oct 2 used a net 50 m wide and 6.8 m tall, with one vessel towing it and workers holding its ends from both sides of the waterside walkway. [ 2 ]
- The operation was halted at about 17:30 on Oct 2 after the net caught on the waterway floor roughly 100 m short of the sixth footbridge. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- The shark crossed the net and returned to the inner waterway around noon on Oct 3, and the net was removed at about 16:20 that day. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Authorities said they will not carry out additional rescue work for the time being and will watch whether the shark moves to sea on its own, with the National Institute of Fisheries Science monitoring its condition. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Park visitors reached more than 710,000 between Sept 18 and Oct 1, and more than 800,000 in total by Oct 3, when about 52,000 people visited by 18:00. [ 2 , 7 ]
- Busan city said it plans to file a trademark application for the name Bukkangi, judging that the name should become a public promotional asset. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The shark known as Bukkangi was first seen in the artificial waterway at Bukhang Chinsu Park in Dong-gu, Busan on Sept 18 and had stayed there for more than 15 days. [ 2 , 5 ]
- A second attempt to guide the shark to open sea using a large net on Oct 2 was halted when the net caught on the waterway floor about 100 m from the sixth footbridge. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- The shark crossed the net and returned to the inner waterway around noon on Oct 3. [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- The net was removed at about 16:20 on Oct 3 to secure a passage to open water. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Authorities decided to suspend additional rescue operations for the time being and observe whether the shark moves to sea by itself. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Why the shark has not left the waterway and swum out to sea. The documents give no confirmed cause; Kyunghyang Shinmun framed the open question as whether the shark is unwilling or unable to leave, and CBS NoCut News said it is presumed to have crossed the net through a gap created by high tide.
- Whether the shark will survive or eventually leave on its own. Authorities said they will keep watching and the National Institute of Fisheries Science will check its movement and condition and discuss further measures if abnormal behaviour appears; no outcome is stated.
- The exact visitor count for the park. Hankook Ilbo reports more than 710,000 visitors from Sept 18 to Oct 1, while Kyunghyang Shinmun reports 717,800 from Sept 19 to Oct 1; the periods and figures differ.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The shark later nicknamed Bukkangi is first seen in the artificial waterway at Bukhang Chinsu Park in Dong-gu, Busan. [ 2 , 5 ]
- A first rescue attempt using five vessels and water pumps fails to guide the shark out of the waterway. [ 2 , 5 ]
- A joint rescue team begins a second operation near the fourth footbridge using a 50 m by 6.8 m net. [ 2 ]
- Authorities fix the net after it catches on the waterway floor about 100 m short of the sixth bridge and halt the operation. [ 2 ]
- The shark crosses the net and returns to the inner waterway. [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- The net is removed to open a passage to open water. [ 7 , 8 ]
- About 52,000 people visit the park during the day; cumulative visitors since the shark appeared pass 800,000. [ 7 ]