Residents watch "Buchang-i," a shark swimming in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on the last day of the chuseok holiday. [Yonhap]
Residents watch "Buchang-i," a shark swimming in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, on the last day of the chuseok holiday. [Yonhap]

A scrape has been found near the snout of "Buchang-i," the blacktip shark that has been lingering in the waterway of Bukhang Waterfront Park in Busan for 20 days.

According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science on Wednesday, a wound was discovered near the left side of the shark's snout, which has been bleeding. Videos showing the injury have been spreading on SNS.

The abrasion is believed to have been caused by the shark scraping against structures or the bottom of the waterway while making sudden movements in the shallow channel.

Footage posted on SNS captured Buchang-i writhing near the waterway's edge at night, apparently distressed by strong lights shone by some visitors. Experts say the injury may have occurred during one of those episodes.

"While observing Buchang-i recently, we noticed that some visitors shine high-powered lanterns at night, which causes the shark to abruptly change direction in response to the sudden external stimulus," an official from the National Institute of Fisheries Science said.

The official added that the shark "may have sustained the abrasion during that process," and warned that while the wound does not pose an immediate threat to its health, repeated injuries could leave it vulnerable to external infection and cause its condition to deteriorate.

The institute said the current wound is not severe enough to significantly affect the shark's health, but noted that continued monitoring is necessary given the risk of infection if injuries accumulate or worsen.

As Buchang-i has remained in the waterway longer than expected, the institute is closely tracking changes in its behavior as well as environmental conditions including water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen levels.

Researchers are also using drones to monitor the shark's swimming speed and movement. Its current speed of about 5 kilometers per hour shows little change from when it was first observed.

The institute plans to comprehensively assess the shark's abrasion, body condition and environmental factors such as water temperature before sharing its findings with relevant agencies and discussing whether a rescue operation is needed.

To prevent safety incidents and protect Buchang-i, the institute urged the public to "refrain from approaching the waterway and from shining lanterns or mobile phone lights directly at the shark."


bbo@heraldcorp.com