Busan Attraction 'Bukangi' Finally Ready to Leave? ... Not Detected in Monitoring for Second Straight Day

"Bukangi Expected to Expand Its Range Before Heading Out to Open Waters"

The shark Bukangi, which stayed for some time in the artificial waterway at Busan North Port Waterfront Park before heading out to sea, has not been detected by authorities monitoring the area for two consecutive days.

According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science and other agencies, authorities conducted monitoring on October 28 in the waters off the International Passenger Terminal pier, where Bukangi has been spotted, and elsewhere around North Port, but did not find the shark.

On the morning of the 22nd, the shark Bukangi, which had been guided out of the artificial channel at Busan North Port Waterfront Park the previous day in the third attempt, re-entered the channel and swam inside the barrier. Yonhap News Agency

Bukangi left the Waterfront Park waterway on October 21 during an operation by authorities to guide it toward open waters. The shark was then spotted in the waters off the International Passenger Terminal pier for three consecutive days starting October 24, but has not been seen since October 27. Authorities are reportedly expanding their monitoring area to include the waters off Pier 1, outside the Waterfront Park waterway.

However, the fact that Bukangi has not been detected during monitoring does not necessarily mean it has left the North Port area. It may be swimming in waters wider and deeper than the channel as it prepares to head toward open waters.

Relevant agencies believe Bukangi is expanding its range outside the waterway. An official from the National Institute of Fisheries Science said, "We expect Bukangi to gradually expand its range before heading out to open waters." Authorities plan to continue monitoring Bukangi around North Port for the time being.

Bukangi was first spotted in the Waterfront Park waterway on September 18 and stayed there for more than a month. After leaving the waterway during authorities' third operation to guide it toward open waters on October 21, the shark was found near North Port's Pier 1. On October 24, it was also spotted in the waters off the International Passenger Terminal pier, about 2 km away, appearing to expand its range.

Meanwhile, Bukangi, a large shark measuring about 3 m in length, became a local attraction in Busan after it was first spotted, drawing crowds of visitors eager to see it. The Waterfront Park has recently surpassed 1.6 million cumulative visitors.

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