Is the health of "Bukang-i," a black shark that has been staying in Busan Port North Port for over a month, noticeably worsening recently?

Scenes of "Bukang-i" strongly bumping its head against the channel wall and damaged fins have been continuously spotted.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science believes that its snout and fins were damaged as its body scraped against barnacles or oyster shells on the narrow channel walls.

Also, since entering the channel, no official feeding behavior has been confirmed so far.

Experts are concerned that due to prolonged starvation and dropping water temperatures, its stamina may have reached its limit.

One expert warned that in its current state, the survivable period could be as short as about two weeks.

As concerns over its deteriorating health grow, authorities plan to deploy divers and nets today (the 21st) to launch a third operation to guide it to the open sea.

(Photo: Yonhap News)