Runaway wolf finally caught after nine-day search

17 Apr 2026 • 1:46 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Runaway wolf finally caught after nine-day search

  • A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu, which had escaped from Daejeon O-World zoo in South Korea, was recaptured early on Friday after evading authorities for over a week.
  • Neukgu, who escaped on 8 April by digging under a fence, was found near a highway interchange in Daejeon and subdued using a tranquiliser gun under veterinary supervision.
  • The wolf's escape prompted a multi-agency search involving around 300 personnel and led to the closure of a nearby elementary school, with the search complicated by over 100 false sightings.
  • Upon its return to the zoo, veterinary checks confirmed Neukgu was well, though a fishing hook was removed from its stomach during examination.
  • Daejeon mayor Lee Jang Woo apologised for public anxiety and stated the city would implement measures for animal welfare and public safety, as Neukgu is part of a programme to restore the endangered Korean wolf subspecies.

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