South Korean officials successfully guided a large dusky shark out of a canal in Busan after more than a month of efforts to free the animal. The 10-foot female shark, affectionately nicknamed Bukangi after Busan’s north port, had been trapped in a narrow artificial waterway since mid-September. Authorities completed the third and final operation on Wednesday, using a floating platform fitted with nets to gently herd the shark toward the canal’s mouth and back into the deeper sea.

The dusky shark had become a significant local attraction during its time in the canal, drawing over 1.7 million visitors who gathered to watch it circle the waterway. The city of Busan adopted Bukangi as a mascot, and officials noted that the shark’s presence brought unexpected economic benefits to the area. Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo expressed gratitude for the publicity and tourism boost generated by the shark’s appearance.

Officials had made two earlier attempts to free Bukangi, involving boats spraying streams of water and placing nets across the canal, but the shark avoided these efforts. As temperatures declined with the approach of autumn, concerns grew over the shark’s well-being. Marine experts observed troubling signs in the animal’s behavior, including a lack of feeding and difficulty maintaining balance, prompting the decision to attempt a final guided release. The operation was livestreamed, with onlookers witnessing the gradual movement of nets used to prevent the shark from re-entering the canal once it reached open water.

Environmental specialists have pointed to Bukangi’s prolonged presence in the canal as indicative of broader ecological changes. Dusky sharks typically inhabit subtropical waters, and their appearance in South Korean waters is rare. Some experts attribute the shark’s unusual movement northward to rising sea temperatures linked to climate change, suggesting that warming seas are driving typically warm-water species closer to the Korean coast. Kim Jin-koo, a professor of global fisheries at Pukyong National University, noted that as waters warm, species such as the dusky shark appear more frequently in regions where they were once uncommon.

While the shark’s arrival drew public excitement and financial gains for Busan, environmental groups warn that such events may be symptomatic of climate disruption. The shark’s presence in an artificial canal, combined with evidence of physical stress, underscores concerns about how shifting marine ecosystems might affect wildlife survival and local environments.

Bukangi’s successful release marked the end of a month-long episode that captured public attention and highlighted ongoing debates about marine conservation and the impacts of climate change on ocean life in South Korea.