Escaped Wolf Recovered After Nine Days, Celebrations Erupt in South Korea Zoo
A two-year-old male wolf named Neukgu was captured Friday in Daejeon after a nine-day search. He escaped from his O-World zoo enclosure on April 8 by burrowing out.
Search and capture
Authorities mounted an hours-long operation using drones, police, emergency workers and veterinarians. Rescuers tranquilized Neukgu on a hill near an expressway early Friday.
Workers had nearly cornered him earlier on a nearby mountain. A motorist recorded the wolf trotting along a dark mountain road by headlights.
Medical care
Vets took Neukgu back to the zoo for a full examination. He was stable after they used a scope to remove a fishing hook from his stomach.
No other major health problems were found. Born at the zoo in 2024, he is a third-generation descendant of wolves brought from Russia in 2008.
Those animals were part of a project to reintroduce wolves resembling the native Korean population. Wild Korean wolves went extinct in the 1960s.
Reaction and next steps
Social media filled with celebratory messages after the capture. Many posts said “welcome back” and warned it was dangerous outside.
Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo thanked citizens and the nation for their support. President Lee Jae Myung reassured the public that authorities sought to capture Neukgu alive.
Animal rights activists had warned the wolf might not survive outside the zoo. They also feared a lethal outcome, recalling a puma killed after a 2018 escape.
Online posts used the phrase Escaped Wolf Recovered After Nine Days to mark the outcome. Another trend read Celebrations Erupt in South Korea Zoo to sum up public mood.
Zoo statements
Lee Kwan Jong, director of O-World, said Neukgu will be kept apart from other animals. He will receive care until fully recovered and stable.
The zoo remains closed while staff review security measures. Management faces criticism after a series of animal escapes and says it has not set a reopening date.
Officials said Neukgu will be prioritized in recovery plans and could become a major attraction when the facility reopens.
