The intense manhunt for an escaped wolf has concluded after South Korean authorities mobilized hundreds of personnel to successfully capture "Neuk-gu," amid social media buzz and concerns about animal welfare.
Officials in Daejeon, South Korea, confirmed the successful capture of "Neuk-gu," a 2-year-old male wolf that escaped from the zoo after a 9-day search operation.
Neuk-gu was caught near the expressway at 00:44 local time. A medical check found his pulse and body temperature to be within normal ranges.
Previously, hundreds of rescue personnel were deployed to search after Neuk-gu escaped from O-World Zoo and amusement park.
Though officials nearly captured him multiple times, each time the circle tightened, the wolf narrowly escaped.
Reports indicated he was seen in mountainous areas just 2 kilometers from the zoo, and video footage of him running on a nighttime road under car headlights was widely shared on social media.
During his escape, Neuk-gu went viral nationwide, inspiring memes and even commemorative coins, portraying him as the wolf who refused captivity and a symbol of freedom.
However, concerns were raised that since he was raised in captivity, Neuk-gu might struggle to survive in the wild.
Eventually, officials received a tip from the Anyeong-dong area, launched a final operation, and successfully captured him.
Official images show Neuk-gu sedated before being placed in a cage and taken for medical care.
Daejeon city authorities posted, "Thank you everyone for helping bring Neuk-gu home," expressing gratitude to the public for their support throughout the mission.
Neuk-gu was born in 2024 as part of the Korean wolf restoration project, aiming to reintroduce a species now extinct in the wild across the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, animal rights groups expressed concern that the capture might endanger the wolf, referencing the 2018 case when a puma named "Pong-ngi" was shot dead after escaping the same zoo. Even President Lee Jae-myung posted hopes for the wolf’s safe return.
,BBC
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