Celebrity shark guided out of South Korea canal refuses to swim out to sea

A three-metre dusky shark nicknamed Bukangi has repeatedly returned to a canal in Busan, South Korea, after rescuers guided it towards open water. The unusual rescue has drawn wide public attention, while officials are concerned about the shark’s apparent injury and poor condition.

After an operation lasting more than eight hours on Wednesday, Bukangi broke through a barrier and re-entered the canal the following morning. Rescuers freed it from a gap between nets and reinforced the remaining barrier; officials say their rescue operations have ended, though the shark continues to circle near the canal mouth. It may have been attracted by warm water and abundant fish, and more than 1.6 million people visited during its month in the canal.