Endangered shark Bukang-i, which drew 1.6 million visitors to a South Korean canal, is guided out to sea on third attempt

Rescuers spent about eight hours on Wednesday steering the 3m female dusky shark along the canal and out past Marina Bridge in Busan, deploying a large net strung between floating platforms. At around 6pm she was spotted in open water beside a nearby pier. South Korea's oceans ministry declared the operation a success, though she remained near the canal mouth rather than heading further out to sea.

Bukang-i was first spotted at North Port Waterfront Park's artificial waterway on 18 September.

Experts warned she might have only two weeks to live after battering her head on the walls.

Earlier bids failed when she dodged water jets and when a 50m net snagged on the canal bed.