"Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, is guided out of an artificial waterway in Dong-gu, Busan, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
"Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, is guided out of an artificial waterway in Dong-gu, Busan, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

A stranded shark nicknamed Bukang-i made her way out of an artificial waterway and into the open sea on Wednesday after more than a month in South Korea's port city of Busan.

The female dusky shark, about 3.5 meters long, was guided out to sea after being found stranded in the artificial canal at Busan's North Port Waterfront Park on Sept. 18.

Authorities launched the third attempt to lead her out of the canal on Wednesday morning. The operation ended in success about eight hours later at 5:50 p.m. Two previous attempts, one in late September and another earlier this month, had failed.

People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
People gather at North Port Waterfront Park in Busan, where "Bukang-i," a female dusky shark, moved into the open sea on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

The shark's nickname combines the Korean name for the North Port of Busan, "Bukhang," and the suffix "-i."

Bukang-i's presence drew over 1.6 million visitors to the waterfront park, but concerns about her health grew as the water inside the canal got colder and as her caretakers observed that they had not seen her eat for the entire month.


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