South Korea guides crowd-pulling shark out of canal

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Seoul, Oct 21, 2026 (AFP) — A shark that has become a viral sensation in South Korea was coaxed out of a canal in which it was stuck, authorities said on Wednesday, as falling temperatures raised concerns for its survival.

The shark — nicknamed “Bukhangi” by fans — was spotted in an artificial waterway in the southeastern port city of Busan last month, with climate activists linking its appearance to climate change.

“The shark has left the waterway,” an oceans ministry spokesperson told AFP on Wednesday evening, without providing further details.

It was not immediately clear if the shark had also swum out of the harbour into which the canal flows.

The three-metre “dusky” shark, a species that is typically found in tropical climates, amassed a huge following, drawing more than 1.6 million people to the Busan canal for a glimpse — bringing an unexpected boon to the local economy.

South Korean authorities twice tried unsuccessfully to steer Bukhangi back to sea, using water jets and then nets, before launching a third attempt on Wednesday morning as the water grows colder.

Authorities initially opted to wait for the shark to leave on its own, but growing concerns for its well-being prompted a third attempt, the spokesperson said.

The ministry said in a separate statement on Wednesday that the limited depth in the artificial waterway also prompted authorities to try again.

The operation was livestreamed by the city as curious onlookers gathered along the canal for a glimpse of the shark.

Busan authorities fixed nets to floating pontoons that were moved gradually as the shark headed towards the open sea.

The nets were intended to block its return to the waterway once it passed, they said.

An ocean ministry official told AFP that experts had raised concerns about the shark’s health because it “had not been seen eating and appeared to have difficulty maintaining its balance while swimming”.

“These were not normal signs, and the experts believed its condition appeared to be deteriorating,” the official said.

The shark has been celebrated for its unexpected boost to the local economy, with Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo thanking it for generating publicity he said would otherwise have cost “trillions”.

However, environmental groups say the shark’s appearance should be seen as a warning of the climate crisis, rather than a spectacle or an economic boost.

They link its arrival to warming seas, saying that rising temperatures are pushing warm-water fish northwards, with subtropical sharks in pursuit.

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