BUSAN — A shark nicknamed "Bukangi," which spent more than a month in an artificial canal at a waterfront park in Busan's North Port before swimming out, is adapting to the open sea.
The shark was spotted on consecutive days, the 24th and 25th of this month, in waters off the pier at Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Institute of Fisheries Science and other agencies on the 27th.
While in the narrow, shallow canal, Bukangi frequently surfaced. Off the international passenger terminal, the shark has been surfacing only intermittently, officials said.
That pattern suggests the shark is adjusting to deeper water after leaving the waterfront park canal, which is about 3 meters deep. It is spending correspondingly longer periods submerged.
Experts expect Bukangi to appear in waters around the waterfront park for a time before heading farther out. After roughly a week of adjusting to the new environment, the shark will gradually widen its range and move naturally out to sea, they said.
Bukangi was swimming normally and had no visible injuries, officials determined.
Unlike the waterfront park, the terminal pier where the shark was seen is closed to the public, making it unlikely that Bukangi will be visible to onlookers for the time being.
Authorities plan to continue monitoring the shark's range and movements.
Bukangi was first spotted in the waterfront park canal on the 18th of last month and stayed for more than a month. Authorities guided the shark out of the canal toward open water on the 21st of this month.
