Shark seen near Busan Port International Passenger Terminal

National Institute of Fisheries Science says animal is adapting to new environment, shows no injuries

Bukangi, a shark that left an artificial waterway at Busan's Bukgang waterfront park during a third guidance operation on Friday, swims back inside the barrier in the canal. [Yonhap]
Bukangi, a shark that left an artificial waterway at Busan's Bukgang waterfront park during a third guidance operation on Friday, swims back inside the barrier in the canal. [Yonhap]

Bukangi, a shark that had gone unobserved for two days, has been found swimming in good health about 2 kilometers from where it was last spotted.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science confirmed during field monitoring conducted from midday to 3 p.m. Saturday that Bukangi was swimming in the harbor near Busan Port International Passenger Terminal.

The location where Bukangi was spotted Saturday afternoon is a port facility with restricted public access. While outside the artificial waterway, it cannot be considered open sea. The spot is about 2 kilometers from Pier 1 of Busan Port, where the shark was last seen Friday morning.

After guidance operations to steer Bukangi toward open water concluded Wednesday, the shark had been appearing near Pier 1 of the North Port through Friday morning before vanishing. Its absence through Saturday morning had raised the possibility that it had made its way out to sea.

An official from the institute said Bukangi, which had spent more than a month in a narrow waterway only 3 meters deep, appeared to be expanding its range and adapting to a new environment, with no signs of health problems detected.

The official added that the shark appeared to have traveled along the harbor walls to reach the spot where it was found, and that it was displaying normal swimming behavior with no external injuries.


eyre@heraldcorp.com