A large shark has become an unusual tourist attraction after being trapped for over a week in a narrow urban canal in South Korea, the Guardian reports. More than 600,000 people are estimated to have lined the waterfront of the southern port city of Busan since the 3.5-metre shark – nicknamed “Bukang-i” after Busan’s North Port – was first spotted in the canal on September 18.
Experts believe that it was a copper shark, which entered the canal chasing prey from the sea and was then unable to get out. The city’s coast guard attempted to push him out on the day of the sighting, but suspended the operation six hours later on the advice of scientists; they had warned that forcing the animal could hurt it or make it aggressive.
Coast guard boats directed jets of water behind the shark to push it towards the mouth of the canal, but the shark managed to get past the boats and swim back into the canal, the Herald Business reported. The National Institute of Fisheries Sciences said the shark’s condition was stable, but its limited ability to feed and move could weaken it as it stays for longer.
The city appointed the shark as an honorary ambassador for the promotion, giving him the title of “Shafluencer” after 91% of participants in an Instagram poll spoke in favor of the initiative.