Bukang-i. [National Institute of Fisheries Science]
Bukang-i. [National Institute of Fisheries Science]

A shark known as "Bukang-i," living in an artificial waterway at Busan's North Port waterfront park, has sparked curiosity after footage emerged showing what appeared to be a red organ protruding from its abdomen. Some online observers speculated the shark might be giving birth, but experts said the behavior was a natural intestinal-cleansing process.

Videos showing what looked like a red organ emerging from Bukang-i's underside spread widely on social media in recent days. Online commenters expressed concern over the shark's health — asking whether it had been injured — while others floated the theory that it was in labor.

An official from the National Institute of Fisheries Science addressed the speculation in a media interview, saying the shark was "temporarily pushing its intestines out through the cloaca to clean them."

The behavior is a natural one in which sharks briefly evert part of their intestines to flush out food residue and other debris. Bukang-i was observed retracting its intestines back into its body after completing the process.

Meanwhile, according to the Busan Facilities Corporation, Bukang-i drew 205,000 visitors over the three-day Hangul Day holiday from Friday through Sunday. Since the shark was first spotted in the waterway on Sept. 18, cumulative visitors have reached 1,348,800.

Bukang-i has remained in the waterway despite two attempts by Busan city officials and the National Institute of Fisheries Science to guide it back out to sea.

The institute said it is continuing to monitor Bukang-i's swimming behavior and overall health, and will coordinate with Busan city and other relevant agencies if any abnormalities are detected.


bbo@heraldcorp.com