A female dusky shark nicknamed Bukangi has returned to the entrance of a Busan canal barely a day after South Korean officials led her toward open water.
The roughly 3-meter shark had spent more than a month in the waterway and remains the center of a rescue effort focused on protecting her health.
South Korea's oceans ministry said Wednesday evening that workers had managed to guide Bukangi out of the canal and into an open harbor.
Later reports indicated she had come back to the canal's mouth, apparently getting past a barrier set up to keep her from swimming back in.
Local media reported that authorities planned another relocation operation for Thursday, October 22.
An Eight-Hour Operation and a Barrier Breach
The Wednesday rescue lasted more than eight hours, according to The Associated Press.
Workers steered a large floating platform through the narrow canal, using oars to redirect Bukangi whenever she came near it.
Dozens of workers on both banks pulled ropes to move the platform about one kilometer toward the canal's entrance.
Rescuers also placed extra nets ahead of the platform to stop the shark from turning back, though reports on Thursday said she had returned to the entrance area anyway.
The latest effort followed three earlier attempts to guide her toward the sea, including two that failed on September 29 and October 2.
Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo said the shark had eventually reached the sea during Wednesday's operation, though it was unclear how far she traveled.
Yonhap news agency later reported that Bukangi had been spotted near a nearby pier.
In a Facebook post after the operation, Chun thanked the public for its support of the shark and the city.
"We will never forget the great interest people have shown for Bukangi and Busan's waters," Chun wrote.
"We hope Bukangi can live a healthy life in the blue sea."
Bukangi was first seen in the canal in mid-September and gradually became a major tourist draw.
Busan officials estimated that more than 1.7 million visitors had come to see the shark, while the BBC reported that over 1.6 million people had visited a city park to catch a glimpse of her.
City officials embraced Bukangi as an unofficial mascot, giving the port city's tourism sector a boost.
Her long stay also raised concerns among marine experts and authorities about the risks of remaining in the canal.
Experts noted that Bukangi showed no apparent signs of feeding during her monthlong stay.
Officials also worried that falling water temperatures could weaken the shark further, as she appeared to have sustained an injury.
Reports cited by the BBC suggested unusually warm water and abundant fish may have attracted Bukangi to the canal.
Experts have also warned that rising sea temperatures could make Busan a more frequent destination for sharks in the future.
