A two-year-old wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea has been safely recaptured after a nine-day search that captivated the nation. The male wolf, named Neukgu, burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo in Daejeon on 8 April, sparking a large-scale operation involving police, fire officials, the military and veterinarians.
Animal rights activists had expressed concerns for the wolf's survival and feared he might be killed during capture, as happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018. The intense national interest prompted President Lee Jae Myung to reassure the public that authorities were doing their best to capture the wolf alive.
Earlier in the week, Neukgu was nearly caught on a mountain near the zoo but broke away from a perimeter set by rescue workers. A driver also spotted the wolf and shared a video of him trotting along a dark mountain road. He was finally found and tranquilised on a hill near an expressway early on Friday after an hours-long search involving drones.
After being returned to the zoo, vets removed a fishing hook from his stomach but found no other significant health issues. Daejeon officials released videos of the rescue, and social media was flooded with celebratory posts. The mayor of Daejeon expressed gratitude for public support in ensuring Neukgu's safe return.
Born at the zoo in 2024, Neukgu is a third-generation descendant of wolves brought from Russia in 2008 for a reintroduction project. The zoo's director said Neukgu would be kept in a separate area until fully recovered. The zoo, which has been criticised over a series of animal escapes, remains closed pending a review of security measures.
