"Bukang, Please Go Back Safely"... Shark Rescue Operation Draws 600,000 Visitors [News File]

It is currently one of the hottest places in Busan. It is the Busan North Port Waterfront Park. On September 18, a shark named "Bukang," measuring about 3.5 meters long, appeared in the waterway here. Since Bukang appeared, I have been visiting this place very frequently, both for reporting and on a personal level. However, I am surprised every time I come. It makes me wonder if there has ever been this many people gathered around the North Port area. Just how has this single shark transformed Busan? Today, I would like to talk about Busan's top star, "Bukang." Experts currently estimate that Bukang is either a bull shark or a dusky shark. However, because these two species look so similar, it is difficult to tell them apart simply by watching them swim underwater.

[Kim Jin-koo / Professor of Aquatic Life Science, Pukyong National University: It's either a bull shark or a dusky shark. The key to distinguishing between these two species is, as you can see here, the two dorsal fins. There is a first dorsal fin and a second dorsal fin. If there is a pointed ridge between them, it becomes a dusky shark, and if there is no pointed ridge, it becomes a bull shark.]

In other words, whether Bukang is a bull shark or a dusky shark needs to be verified more clearly by looking at its belly or back. The question is why such a large shark ended up entering the waterway of this waterfront park of all places. Experts believe it may have followed its prey in and then failed to find its way out of the narrow waterway. In fact, it is analyzed that food sources such as flathead mullet and Japanese horse mackerel are abundant in this waterway. So from Bukang's perspective, it entered thinking, "There's plenty to eat?" and ended up realizing, "Wait, where is the exit?" Yet this shark has become an absolute sensation. As news of the shark spread via social media, citizens began flocking to the scene, and it was even given the cute name "Bukang." If you come to the site, people are crowded in front of the fences to see Bukang, almost as if waiting for a celebrity. You can also see people running along the path where Bukang swam. Because of a single shark, the North Port has essentially turned into a representative regional tourist attraction. During the four-day Chuseok holiday alone, 483,000 people visited the North Port, and the cumulative number of visitors from the 18th, when Bukang appeared, to the 28th exceeded 600,000. Considering that the usual weekend visitor count here hovers around 2,000, this is quite literally a massive change. Local commercial districts, including nearby cafes and convenience stores, have also enjoyed a sudden boom. The Busan City government even decided to appoint Bukang as an honorary promotional ambassador. Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo also expressed his affection regarding Bukang's popularity, saying he thinks it is "adorably cute" and joking that he would even like to throw it a stingray. As someone whose hometown is Busan, I sometimes wonder what it would be like if Bukang stayed here permanently and became Busan's mascot. Citizens also feel a sense of regret about it leaving.

[Kim Do-yoon, Kim Yong-nam, Kim Ri-wan / Chuncheon, Gangwon Province: Bukang is famous and rare, and it became a good memory, so it's a bit disappointing that it's leaving.]

However, despite these feelings of regret, a release operation has already been carried out once to send Bukang back to the sea. Several boats entered the waterway and used water pumps to push water outward, attempting to guide Bukang toward the open sea. Ultimately, the first operation ended in failure.
For the second operation, nets are being deployed. The plan is to guide Bukang toward the open sea using a net custom-made for the waterway, measuring about 50 meters wide and 4.2 meters high. However, voices of concern have also been raised regarding these release operations. Critics argue that forcing the shark with aggressive driving methods could injure Bukang.

[Yeon Sung-chan / Director of Seoul National University Animal Hospital: Even if it's not direct capture, various stresses related to capture can cause animals to behave frantically and ultimately lead to muscle damage...]

On the other hand, experts explain that letting it stay here indefinitely is not a good solution either. It might be fine for the immediate present, but it is not a suitable place for it to live for the rest of its life.

[Choi Yoon / Professor of Marine Biology, Kunsan National University: Looking at how it swims, it looks very unnatural, and because the water depth is shallow and the space is narrow, it is unable to move about freely.]

Since sharks are animals that naturally roam the wide ocean, spending a long time in a narrow artificial waterway surrounded by concrete can hardly be considered a good environment, experts say. Ultimately, the key point will be how to send Bukang back to the sea while safeguarding its safety. Experts explain that it is important to create a "path" so that Bukang can return to the sea on its own. A method called "soft release" has been suggested, which involves using the scent of prey naturally found in the coastal waters of Busan, such as sardines and mackerel, to guide its movement.

[Yeon Sung-chan / Director of Seoul National University Animal Hospital: We very often see cases where wild animals naturally move in and out and eventually disappear when food is placed inside a cage with a large fence as well as slightly outside of it. This is called a soft release. If Bukang also naturally finds its way out through such a method, or if it continues to stay in the waterway, don't we need a bit of leisure to look at the situation with more time...]

In the end, rather than chasing Bukang away, safely creating a path so that it can head to the sea on its own appears to be the most important solution.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.