'Bukang-i' Returns to the Waterway Again Instead of the Sea... Second Rescue Attempt Also Fails

The shark 'Bukang-i,' which has remained at Busan North Port Waterfront Park for more than 10 days, crossed the net installed during a rescue operation and returned farther into the waterway. As the second rescue attempt also effectively failed, authorities are facing growing concerns over what to do next.

According to Yonhap News Agency and other outlets on the 3rd, Bukang-i crossed the large net installed during the rescue operation the previous day and returned farther into the waterway within a day.

Rescue authorities installed a large net near the waterway's outlet and began guiding Bukang-i in an effort to return it to the sea. They spread a net 50 meters long and 6.8 centimeters high near the Fourth Pedestrian Bridge at the waterfront park, then pulled it toward the Sixth Pedestrian Bridge, which is closer to the sea, to guide Bukang-i out of the waterway.

However, the rescue operation was suspended after the net became caught on the bottom of the waterway and Bukang-i stopped moving outward. Authorities then decided to secure the net at a point about 100 meters inside the waterway's outlet to prevent Bukang-i from returning farther inland.

Bukang-i, which had been circling the net and looking for an opening, eventually crossed it at around noon that day and returned farther into the waterway.

As Bukang-i remained in the waterway even after the second rescue attempt, crowds of citizens gathered around the waterfront park that day to catch a glimpse of it, creating a hectic scene.

Authorities had initially planned to observe whether Bukang-i would make its own way out to sea during the National Foundation Day holiday. However, with the additional rescue attempt also failing, they are expected to continue deliberating over future rescue methods and measures.
 

[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter