A shark trapped in a South Korean canal for more than a month was successfully freed on Wednesday after rescue officials made their third attempt to guide the animal back to open water.
The shark, nicknamed Bukang-i, became stuck in a harbor canal in Busan. South Korea's oceans ministry confirmed the successful release, according to The Guardian.
The animal's plight drew unusual public attention. Over the month of confinement, approximately 1.6 million visitors came to observe Bukang-i. Local residents organized informal watch groups called "jagyeongdan," a term The Guardian describes as sitting between vigilante group and neighbourhood watch. These volunteers gathered nightly around the harbor wearing high-visibility vests and carrying selfie sticks to monitor the shark. YouTubers also documented the situation, providing live coverage that amplified public interest.
The rescue required multiple attempts before success. Officials expressed confidence that Bukang-i will transition into open water in due course following her release.
The incident reflects how a stranded marine animal in an urban setting can become a focal point for community engagement, drawing thousands of onlookers and prompting organized citizen monitoring efforts throughout the rescue period.