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Elusive wolf sparks nationwide search after zoo escape
A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu has remained at large for over a week after burrowing under a fence at Daejeon's O-World zoo, triggering a massive search operation and capturing public attention across South Korea.
Near misses and false leads mark the search
The hunt began last week when Neukgu slipped out of his enclosure, prompting the deployment of more than 300 firefighters, police officers, and military personnel. Thermal imaging drones initially spotted the wolf weaving through foliage near the zoo, but authorities lost track while replacing a drone battery.
On Monday night, a breakthrough emerged when a motorist filmed Neukgu trotting along a road 2 km from O-World. The video, shared widely on social media, sparked a renewed search involving drones and police teams. However, the wolf vanished by dawn, leaving no trace.
False alarms have complicated the effort. Authorities received dozens of reported sightings, including children mistaking dogs for Neukgu and an AI-generated image of a wolf circulating online. One resident even brought a wolfdog to assist, a move not coordinated with officials.
Public fascination and calls for humane capture
Neukgu's escape has gripped the nation, inspiring a meme coin that traded $150,000 in 24 hours. Creators dubbed him a "symbol of independence," while President Lee Jae-myung expressed hope on X for a safe return, writing, "I hope no human casualties occur and I pray that Neukgu also returns home safely."
"The reality that the life of an animal may be at stake due to poor management and structural defects of its facility is clearly unjust."
Animal Freedom Solidarity group
Animal rights activists drew parallels to a 2018 incident at the same zoo, where an escaped puma, Porongi, was shot dead by police. They urged authorities to avoid repeating that outcome.
Survival concerns for the captive-bred wolf
Neukgu, born in 2024 as part of a Korean wolf restoration program, has spent his life in captivity. Experts warn he may lack the skills to survive in the wild, having never hunted. His last recorded meal-two chickens the night before his escape-offers little preparation for a diet of wild ungulates like deer or boar.
O-World, now closed to visitors, has played wolf howls over loudspeakers in hopes of luring him back. The zoo also shared footage of Neukgu pacing in a forest, captioned with a plea for his safe capture.
Safety measures and historical context
Authorities shuttered a nearby elementary school as a precaution, though no attacks have been reported. The Korean wolf, once native to the peninsula, is now extinct in the wild. A 1916 American newspaper described the species as agile and strategic, capable of leaping over prey to unnerve them.
For now, Neukgu's fate remains uncertain, with officials continuing their search amid growing public concern.
