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A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu was safely captured early Friday (April 17) in Daejeon, South Korea, after spending nine days on the run. Neukgu, who burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World theme park zoo on April 8, became a national sensation as hundreds of rescue workers, drones, and veterinarians joined the search effort. The search ended at 12:44 a.m. when rescuers tranquilized Neukgu near an expressway following a tip-off, according to Daejeon city officials.
Authorities said Neukgu was moving quickly when they located him and used a drone to monitor his movements. Once tranquilized, he was carried to safety and brought back to the zoo for a medical check. Veterinarians found that Neukgu was in stable condition, had not lost much weight, and appeared to have eaten during his time outside. However, they discovered and removed a fishing hook from his stomach using endoscopic surgery.
The wolf’s escape had sparked concern from animal rights groups, who feared for his survival and safety, especially given a past incident in which a puma was killed during a capture attempt at the same zoo in 2018. National attention was so intense that President Lee Jae Myung publicly expressed hopes for Neukgu’s safe return. Social media erupted with messages of relief and celebration when the capture was announced, and Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo thanked citizens for their support.
Neukgu, born at O-World in 2024 as part of a restoration program to reintroduce wolves to Korea, will be kept in a separate area and receive care until he fully recovers, zoo director Lee Kwan Jong told the Washington Post. The zoo remains closed while security measures are reviewed, and no reopening date has been set. Zoo officials say Neukgu is likely to be a major attraction when visitors are allowed back.