A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu was safely captured Friday morning after a nine-day search that captivated South Korea and prompted intervention from the country's president.
The male wolf escaped from O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8 by burrowing under his enclosure fence. What began as a local zoo incident quickly escalated into a national drama that mobilized police, military personnel, emergency workers, and veterinarians across the region.
Neukgu was finally located on a hill near an expressway early Friday morning. Rescue teams used drones and coordinated ground searches before successfully tranquilizing the animal. Video footage released by Daejeon officials showed rescuers lifting the sedated wolf from a ditch and placing him in a transport carrier.
Ik hoop dat niemand gewond raakt en ik bid dat Neukgu veilig thuiskomt
Lee Jae-myun, South Korean President — NOS Nieuws
The search proved more challenging than initially expected. Early attempts nearly succeeded when authorities spotted Neukgu on a mountain near the zoo, but he escaped a perimeter established by rescue workers. In another incident, sixty police officers attempted to encircle the wolf, only to watch him leap over a three-meter wall and disappear again.
The Guardian frames this as a human interest story emphasizing public relief and successful rescue efforts, while contextualizing it within broader animal welfare concerns. Their perspective highlights the contrast between this successful capture and the 2018 puma killing, positioning the story as a redemptive moment for South Korean wildlife management.
NOS presents the story through a European lens focused on the technical aspects of the search operation and public safety protocols. Their coverage emphasizes the systematic, organized response involving multiple agencies, reflecting Dutch values around coordinated emergency management and animal welfare standards.
Public involvement complicated rescue efforts. Children repeatedly reported wolf sightings that turned out to be domestic dogs, while one resident's decision to use his wolf-dog hybrid in the search created additional confusion for tracking teams.
Social media amplified the story's reach, with millions of South Koreans following updates and sharing videos. One viral clip showed Neukgu trotting along a dark mountain road, illuminated by vehicle headlights. The wolf's plight resonated particularly with animal rights activists, who feared he might be killed during capture — the same fate that befell a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.
Upon his return to the zoo, veterinarians discovered a fishing hook lodged in Neukgu's stomach, which they successfully removed using a scope. The wolf showed no other significant health issues and remains in stable condition in a separate recovery area.
deepest gratitude to citizens of Daejeon and also the entire nation for your support in ensuring Neukgu's safe return
Lee Jang-woo, Daejeon Mayor — The Guardian
Neukgu represents more than just an escaped zoo animal. Born in 2024, he is a third-generation descendant of wolves brought from Russia in 2008 as part of a conservation project aimed at reintroducing species resembling those that lived wild in Korea before extinction in the 1960s.
The incident raises questions about zoo security protocols and public safety measures. O-World officials have not yet announced specific changes to prevent future escapes, though Neukgu will remain in isolation during his recovery period.