A shark that became trapped in a canal in the port city of Busan in South Korea has turned into one of the country's most famous tourist attractions. Officials are still trying to return the shark to the sea, but these efforts have so far been fruitless.
Shark Details
The shark was first spotted on September 18 in a narrow waterway in the northern port of Busan. According to reports, the species of this shark is unclear, but it is believed to be a requiem shark, possibly a bull shark or a bronze shark. The size of this shark is estimated to be about 3.5 meters (approximately 11 feet and 6 inches) and it has been named "Bokungi," derived from the Korean name for the northern port of Busan.
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Attracting Tourists and Promotions
Officials in Busan announced that over the past two weeks, around 600,000 people have visited the site to see this creature. During the four-day Chuseok holiday weekend, nearly half a million people visited the park by the water where the shark is trapped, while on average, there were only about 2,000 visitors on regular holidays.
Busan Mayor, Jung Jae-soo, thanked the unexpected visitors for the publicity that could potentially cost "trillions." Additionally, local media reported an increase in sales of shark-shaped ice creams in nearby shops. Following a social media poll, the shark was introduced as an honorary ambassador, with 91% of participants agreeing with this idea.
Moreover, shares of Pinkfong, the studio behind the viral song "Baby Shark," rose by about 7% following this excitement. However, the buzz surrounding the shark has led to false rumors about its reappearance and even breeding.
Rescue efforts earlier this week were unsuccessful. The coast guard and other agencies used boats to spray jets of water behind the shark to encourage it toward the ocean, but the shark evaded the jets and did not head toward the desired destination. The Chosun Ilbo reported that a new attempt to guide the shark using a net is planned for Friday.
This shark is considered the latest rare celebrity animal in South Korea, similar to the excitement last April for "Nokgo," a young wolf that escaped from a zoo. This wolf was recaptured after spending 9 days in the wild.
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