A shark went astray and captured Korea's heart - will she finally make it back to sea?
A dusky shark became an unexpected viral sensation after wandering into a canal in Busan, South Korea, prompting a complex rescue operation. Despite the efforts of marine biologists and the coastguard, the shark remained in the canal, highlighting the challenges of managing wildlife in urban environments.
Why it matters
The incident illustrates the intersection of urban development, marine conservation, and the power of social media in modern news cycles.
Figure caption, Watch: BBC follows operation to rescue shark stranded in South Korean canal
As soon as a large shark was spotted in a canal in Busan - a bustling shipping hub and beach city on South Korea's south-eastern tip - marine biologist Kim Hyun-woo was drafted in to rescue it.
He got the call in mid-September, on his way home from a business trip tracking shoals of mackerel to aid fishing vessels. Despite being one of the country's leading shark experts, he never thought he'd be asked by the coastguard to actually save one.
South Korea is no stranger to sharks but one this size, in a shallow, concrete canal right by the world's seventh busiest port, was unheard of - until now.
With an excited crowd already gathering at the waterfront, his team from the National Institute of Fisheries Science had to move fast.
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