"May Have Only Two Weeks to Live"... Bukangi Hits Head Against Wall: What's Going On?

No feeding activity observed for more than a month
Expert: "Declining stamina... may survive for as little as two weeks"

Concerns are growing about the health of Bukangi, a shark that has been in an artificial waterway at Busan North Port Waterfront Park for more than a month, after it showed unusual behavior by forcefully hitting its head against the waterway wall. Experts have also said that it may have as little as two weeks to live.

A rescue operation for a shark (Bukangi) using a large net was carried out on the 2nd at Bukhang Chinsu Park in Dong-gu, Busan. Yonhap News.

According to Herald Economy, Bukangi was seen forcefully hitting its head against the outer wall of the waterway on the morning of the 19th.

Choi Yoon, an honorary professor in the Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture at Kunsan National University and a shark expert, told Herald Economy, "Bukangi's physical condition appears to be deteriorating rapidly." He added, "It seems to have hit the wall hard because its senses have become dull due to problems such as declining stamina."

Particular concern stems from the fact that Bukangi has not been observed feeding for more than a month. The National Institute of Fisheries Science, which is monitoring Bukangi's condition, said it has not seen the shark eat during that time.

Professor Choi judged that Bukangi likely has not eaten anything for nearly a month. He said that black sharks and other species sometimes go without feeding for more than a month, and in some cases for as long as two months, and estimated that Bukangi has also used up a considerable amount of the energy stored in its body.

He also said that Bukangi may not have much time left to live, as declining stamina from a lack of food has coincided with falling water temperatures. Asked how long Bukangi might survive, Professor Choi said, "It may have as little as about two weeks left."

On the 29th of last month, the Coast Guard and fire department rescue boats carried out a rescue operation at Bukhang Chinsugongwon in Dong-gu, Busan, spraying streams of water to guide Bu-kangi farther out to sea. Yonhap News Agency

Recently, an injury was also found on one of Bukangi's fins. Video filmed by members of the public showed that the tip of its right pectoral fin had turned white and appeared to be partially damaged.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science believes that part of the fin was damaged by friction as Bukangi swam close to the waterway wall. No bleeding was observed, and the injury is not considered serious enough to affect its health.

Bukangi was first spotted on September 18 in an artificial waterway at Busan North Port Waterfront Park. It was identified as a black shark measuring about 3 meters in length and has been unable to leave the waterway for more than a month. The relevant authorities have carried out two rescue operations but failed to return Bukangi to the sea. Since then, they have been monitoring its health while waiting for it to leave the waterway on its own.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.