Escaped Wolf Captured Safely After Nine-Day Search in South Korea
A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, has been safely captured after a nine-day search that gripped the nation and sparked widespread concern. The young male wolf burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo on April 8, leading to an intense rescue operation involving police, fire officials, and the military.
National Concern and Celebrity Status
The escape of Neukgu quickly became a national story in South Korea, with the wolf gaining celebrity status as the public followed the search closely. Animal rights activists expressed worries about whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and feared he might be killed during capture, a fate that befell a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.
President Lee Jae Myung even issued a statement reassuring citizens that authorities were doing their utmost to capture the wolf alive. Earlier in the week, rescue workers nearly caught Neukgu after spotting him on a mountain near the zoo, but he managed to break through their perimeter. A driver later shared a video of the wolf trotting along a dark mountain road, illuminated by the headlights of the trailing vehicle.
Successful Capture and Medical Treatment
Neukgu was finally found and tranquilized on a hill near an expressway early on Friday, following an hours-long search that utilized drones, police, emergency workers, and veterinarians. According to city and zoo officials, he was in stable condition after being returned to the zoo. Veterinarians used a scope to remove a fishing hook from his stomach but found no other significant health issues.
Daejeon officials released social media videos showing rescuers pulling the limp wolf from a ditch and placing him in a carrier, as well as the animal undergoing medical examinations at the zoo. Social media platforms were flooded with celebratory posts, including messages saying "welcome back" and "Neukgu, it's dangerous outside the house."
Background and Zoo Response
Born at the zoo in 2024, Neukgu is a third-generation descendant of a group brought from Russia in 2008 as part of a project to reintroduce wolves resembling those that lived in the wild in Korea before becoming extinct in the 1960s. In a Facebook post, the mayor of Daejeon, Lee Jang-woo, expressed his "deepest gratitude to citizens of Daejeon and also the entire nation for your support in ensuring Neukgu's safe return."
Lee Kwan Jong, the director of O-World, stated that Neukgu would be kept in a separate area from other animals and receive care until he has fully recovered and stabilized. The zoo's management, which has faced criticism over a series of animal escapes, closed the facility after Neukgu broke out and has not decided when it will reopen. Lee Kwan Jong added that the zoo is reviewing its security measures and will prioritize Neukgu's recovery, with the wolf expected to be a major attraction upon reopening.
