A shark that became trapped in a canal in Busan, South Korea, has une...

The story

A shark trapped in a Busan canal has turned into a major tourist draw, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors over the past two weeks. Named Bukangi, the animal remains in stable condition and has been appointed an honorary ambassador as authorities prepare a second rescue operation.

An unconfirmed species of shark has captured the public's attention in Busan, South Korea, after unexpectedly taking up residence in a local canal. According to the Busan city government, around 570,000 people have visited the shark, which was named Bukangi in an ode to a port in the city.

The mayor of Busan posted on X that the animal has been trapped in the waterway for more than 12 days. Despite the confinement, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute stated that the shark is currently in stable condition.

An initial rescue attempt conducted jointly by the city's fire department and the Coast Guard was unsuccessful. While officials prepare a second mission to guide the shark out of the canal, Bukangi has been officially named an honorary ambassador of Busan and continues to be celebrated by the city.