Shark 'Bukang-i' Resists Herding in Busan Port; 2nd Rescue Operation Set for Day After Tomorrow

[Anchor]

Rescue operations have begun to return 'Bukang-i', a shark that has gained nationwide popularity while staying in Busan North Port, back to the open sea. Even water cannons were mobilized, but the attempt ultimately failed.

KNN Reporter Choi Han-sol.

[Reporter]

Coast Guard and fire rescue boats emerge from inside the waterway, firing water cannons.

An operation has begun to drive the shark 'Bukang-i' out toward the open sea beyond the waterway.

Bukang-i briefly appears to be pushed away by the water current, but repeatedly ducks beneath the deep water to avoid it before resurfacing.

[Visitors: It is smart. Go Bukang-i!]

Later, as if it has grown accustomed to the situation, it leisurely swims right alongside the rescue boat, prompting cheers from citizens.

[Visitors: It is right here! Wow!]

The water cannon operation—which reportedly referenced a 2004 case where a great white shark stranded in a US salt marsh was guided back to the sea—ultimately ended in failure.

Just beyond the pedestrian bridge visible behind me is the entrance of the waterway leading to the sea, yet during dozens of rounds of water cannon fire, the shark Bukang-i ventured outside the pedestrian bridge only twice before returning to the waterway.

Although the operation failed, citizens are rather pleased that they can continue to see Bukang-i.

[Kang Geon-woo / Buk-gu, Busan: If it failed, it means the shark likes it here in the North Port waterway, so leaving it as it is even if the operation fails might be fine.]

Experts also believe there must be a valid reason why Bukang-i refuses to leave.

[Kim Jin-gu / Professor, Department of Marine Bio-Resource and Environment, Pukyong National University: I suspect it might keep entering the waterway to give birth. Also, because this is a waterway, it is safe, and the water temperature is higher here than elsewhere. This fellow prefers warm waters.]

The cumulative crowd gathered to see Bukang-i has reached 607,000.

Bolstered by this record-breaking popularity, the Busan Metropolitan Government has officially appointed Bukang-i as an honorary goodwill ambassador.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science stated that it is fabricating a net 50 meters wide and 4 meters high tailored to the waterway, and will launch a second operation to return Bukang-i using this net on October 2.

(Video by Hwang Tae-chul, KNN)

Choi Han-sol, KNN
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.