South Korea's Runaway Wolf Finally Captured
Friday, 2026/04/17239 words3 minutes143 reads
Neukgu, a two-year-old wolf who escaped from O-World zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, was successfully captured on Friday following an intensive nine-day search operation. The wolf was apprehended near an expressway at 00:44 local time, bringing relief to hundreds of rescue officials and concerned citizens who had followed his journey.
The capture proved challenging as Neukgu repeatedly evaded authorities despite multiple close encounters. On Monday evening, the fire department received reports of a sighting approximately 2 kilometers from the zoo, and social media footage showed the wolf illuminated by vehicle headlights on a darkened road. However, each attempt to corner him proved futile as the elusive animal consistently slipped away.
Public concern intensified due to Neukgu's participation in a restoration program for the Korean wolf, a species now extinct in the wild on the Korean Peninsula. Animal welfare advocates expressed fears that the capture operation might result in tragedy, referencing the 2018 incident when Porongi, an escaped puma from the same facility, was killed during recapture. The situation garnered such attention that President Lee Jae Myung publicly appealed for the wolf's safe return.
Authorities finally succeeded after receiving intelligence on Thursday evening, deploying a tranquilizer dart from 20 meters away. Medical examination revealed Neukgu had maintained his weight and appeared well-nourished, though veterinarians performed endoscopic surgery to remove a fishing hook discovered in his stomach. The successful operation has been celebrated as a triumph of patience and careful planning.
