Watch: BBC follows operation to rescue shark stranded in South Korean canal.
A large shark was spotted in a canal in Busan, a bustling shipping hub and beach city on South Korea's southeastern tip. Marine biologist Kim Hyun-woo was called in to rescue it in mid-September, while returning from a business trip tracking shoals of mackerel to aid fishing vessels. Despite being one of the country's leading shark experts, he never expected to be asked by the coastguard to save one.
The Unusual Situation
South Korea is no stranger to sharks, but a shark of this size in a shallow, concrete canal right by the world's seventh busiest port was unprecedented. With an excited crowd gathering at the waterfront, Kim's team from the National Institute of Fisheries Science had to act quickly. The first task was to identify the species, as some sharks are more dangerous than others. The shark was found to be a female dusky shark, a species linked to only two deadly attacks.
“"The shark had to return to sea," Kim stated, concerned for the safety of onlookers.
Initial Rescue Attempts
The dusky shark was first spotted in the canal in mid-September. A small coastguard ship made an initial attempt to guide her out using an electrical deterrence device, which generates a weak current that sharks typically avoid. However, after five hours, officials determined that this particular shark was too large and fast for the device. Kim decided to wait for the shark to exit on her own, but that did not happen.
As authorities sought ways to guide her out, the stranded shark went viral. The city council sent an emergency text alert to residents urging caution, and the park along the canal quickly filled with people eager to spot the shark. Adoring fans named her Bukangi, derived from "buk hang," the Korean name of the nearby harbor. Within days, a business trademarked her name, and Bukangi merchandise began selling online. City authorities even livestreamed the shark, making her their official mascot.
