South Korea’s Runaway Wolf Neukgu Captured After Nine-Day Search
Daejeon city officials confirmed the capture early on Friday morning. The two-year-old wolf, named Neukgu, had been on the run since April 8. This nine-day ordeal drew widespread attention across South Korea and sparked concern for the animal’s safety.
Neukgu’s Bold Escape from the Zoo
Neukgu slipped out of his enclosure at O-World, a combined zoo and theme park in the central city of Daejeon. He dug beneath a fence and disappeared into the surrounding area on the morning of April 8. The Korean wolf species he belongs to is extinct in the wild, and the zoo had included him in a conservation programme aimed at restoring the population.
Local authorities launched a search immediately. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers and military personnel joined the effort. They used drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and set up traps across the hilly terrain near the park. Yet the wolf proved elusive for full 9 days.
9 Days of Close Calls
The search intensified after a confirmed sighting on Monday night. Residents spotted Neukgu on a small mountain just two kilometres from the zoo. Video footage showed the wolf scampering along a road in the dark, lit by vehicle headlights. Officials rushed to the site but the animal slipped away again before they could secure him.
This near miss kept the operation active around the clock. Daejeon authorities expanded their teams and continued patrols. A local school even closed temporarily because of safety worries. The wolf’s adventures also inspired online memes and even a cryptocurrency token, turning him into an unlikely symbol of freedom for some South Koreans.
Neukgu’s Final Capture Near an Expressway
The breakthrough came late on Thursday evening. A tip-off led rescuers to Anyeong-dong, an area close to an expressway interchange. At 00:44 local time on Friday, officials located the wolf. They used nets to restrain him carefully and placed him in a carrier. No injuries occurred during the operation.
Daejeon city government later stated that Neukgu’s pulse and body temperature were normal after capture. Veterinarians sedated the wolf and provided medical checks at a facility. He has since been returned to O-World zoo.
Public Relief and Reflections
Officials expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the search and to members of the public who had worried about the wolf’s welfare. Animal rights groups had voiced fears that the operation might end badly, recalling a similar case in 2018 when a puma was killed during capture. This time, however, the outcome was peaceful.
South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung, had earlier posted a message on social media wishing for the wolf’s safe return. The incident has highlighted both the challenges of wildlife management and the public’s fascination with such stories. Neukgu is now back in his enclosure, and the nine-day hunt has come to a calm conclusion.
Web Resources on South Korea’s Runaway Zoo Wolf Finally Captured
1. BBC.com : South Korea’s runaway wolf finally captured after nine-day search
2. The Guardian: Hundreds search for wolf that escaped from zoo in South Korea
3. Korea JoongAng Daily : Runaway wolf captured after 9 days, returned to O-World zoo