SEOUL: A shark that became a viral sensation after getting stuck in a South Korean canal returned hours after being coaxed out, authorities said on Thursday, prompting another attempt to guide it back to the sea.
The shark -- nicknamed "Bukhangi" by fans -- was first spotted in the artificial waterway in the southeastern port city of Busan last month, with environmental activists linking its appearance to climate change.
Officials initially waited for the shark to leave on its own, but took a more proactive approach as concerns about its well-being grew.
Workers used nets fixed to floating pontoons late Wednesday to gradually guide the animal, but it dived beneath a net and returned to the canal overnight, authorities said.
"The shark is now between the outer net and an inner net installed 30 to 40 metres ... further inside the canal," an oceans ministry official told AFP.
She said authorities began a fresh attempt Thursday morning, raising the outer net to let Bukhangi move out of the canal.
Before Wednesday, authorities had tried twice and failed to steer Bukhangi back to sea, first with water jets and then with nets.
The three-metre "dusky" shark, a species typically found in tropical climates, amassed a huge following, drawing more than 1.6 million people to the Busan canal for a glimpse.
It has been celebrated for its unexpected boost to the local economy, with Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo thanking it for generating publicity he said would otherwise have cost "trillions".
But environmental groups link its first appearance in the canal to warming seas, saying rising temperatures are pushing warm-water fish north, with subtropical sharks following. - AFP
