Busan shark remains unsighted for 11 days after monthlong stay in canal

BUSAN — Bukang-i the shark, which drew more than a million viewers while staying in a coastal canal in the southeastern city of Busan for over a month, has not been seen for 11 consecutive days, raising the possibility that it has finally headed out to the open sea. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science and relevant agencies, no sightings of Bukang-i have been reported since Oct. 27 near the exit of the canal leading out to Busan's North Port, located about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Experts speculate dropping water temperatures near the canal's exit could have played a role in the shark's disappearance. The optimal water temperature for sharks is between 18 and 26 C, but surface water temperatures off the North Port have fallen to 18-19 C. The shark — affectionately named Bukang-i after Bukhang, Korean for North Port — was first spotted in the canal Sept. 18. Since then, the canal park has turned into a major tourist attraction, drawing nearly 1.7 million visitors as of Oct. 29. Local authorities made three attempts to guide the shark out of the canal in