A two-year-old male wolf that had been on the loose in South Korea for over a week has been successfully captured alive and returned to its zoo enclosure following an extensive nine-day search operation. The wolf, named Neukgu, escaped from Daejeon O-World zoo on 8 April by digging under a perimeter fence, triggering a major multi-agency response.
Massive Search Operation Mobilised
The escape prompted authorities to deploy approximately 300 personnel from various agencies in a concerted effort to locate and recapture the animal. As a precautionary measure, a nearby elementary school was temporarily closed while the search was underway. The wolf was spotted multiple times during the search period but repeatedly managed to evade capture teams.
Complicated Search with False Sightings
The search operation faced significant complications, including over 100 false sightings reported by the public. Some of these false reports were linked to doctored or AI-generated images circulating online, which hampered the genuine search efforts. At one point, a suspected sighting at approximately 9.54pm on Thursday turned out to be a badger rather than the escaped wolf.
Final Capture Operation
The breakthrough came when authorities received a credible tip-off at around 5.30pm on Thursday indicating the wolf had been seen near a city park. Search teams eventually located Neukgu near a highway interchange in Daejeon at approximately 11.45pm. Under veterinary supervision, authorities used a tranquiliser gun to subdue the animal, firing a dart at 12.39am and completing the capture by 12.44am on Friday.
Veterinary Assessment and Recovery
Following his recapture, Neukgu was immediately transported back to the zoo where veterinarians conducted thorough health checks. Initial examinations confirmed that his pulse and body temperature were within normal ranges. During the veterinary assessment, medical staff discovered and removed a fishing hook from the wolf's stomach. The animal remained under close observation as he recovered from the anaesthesia.
Official Responses and Public Concern
Daejeon mayor Lee Jang Woo confirmed the successful recapture, stating that Neukgu had "finally returned safely" at dawn. The mayor expressed gratitude to residents and officials involved in the search while apologising for the public anxiety caused by the incident. He pledged that the city would "prepare measures for animal welfare and public safety" as authorities work to reorganise O-World.
The escape had drawn national attention, with South Korean president Lee Jae Myung expressing concern on social media platform X last week, writing: "I hope no human casualties occur and I pray Neukgu also returns home safely." The zoo and adjacent theme park had been closed following the escape and will require time to implement safety improvements before reopening to the public.
Conservation Significance
Neukgu, born in January 2024, is part of an important conservation programme aimed at restoring the Korean wolf population. This subspecies is classified as endangered and considered functionally extinct in the wild within South Korea. The current population stems from wolves reintroduced from Russia in 2008, following the death of the last known wild wolf on the Korean peninsula in 1997.
The successful recapture represents a significant relief for conservationists and zoo officials who are working to preserve this endangered subspecies through carefully managed breeding and conservation programmes.
