A wolf named Neukgu, which escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, by digging out of its enclosure, has been safely recaptured after a city-wide search involving hundreds of officers, drones, and thermal cameras. The wolf was found in a park and is reported to be in good health.
The young male canine, named Neukgu, dug itself out of its enclosure in the central city of Daejeon on Apr 8. Veterinarians and other staff members examining the condition of a wolf named Neukgu after it was recaptured following its escape from a zoo at O-World Theme Park in Daejeon , on Apr 17, 2026.
Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.SEOUL: A wolf that escaped from a South Korean zoo was recaptured on Friday , authorities said, after it caused aThe young male canine, named Neukgu, dug itself out of its enclosure in the central city of Daejeon on Apr 8 and had been on the run ever since. Authorities deployed hundreds of officers, drones and thermal cameras to track down the elusive runaway, who kept slipping through the net despite several sightings. It was finally caught in the early hours of Friday, with the Daejeon city government writing on X:"Welcome back, #Neukgu!"Authorities finally caught up with the 30kg fugitive after receiving a tip about a sighting in a park in Daejeon, reported Yonhap, citing city officials.The city government posted a video of nighttime rescuers hauling a sleepy-looking Neukgu onto a sack and heaving it into a crate. It posted photos on X of the shaggy returnee lying asleep on a veterinary bed with a muzzle over its snout. Veterinarians and other staff members examining the condition of a wolf named Neukgu after it was recaptured following its escape from a zoo at O-World Theme Park in Daejeon, on Apr 17, 2026. "Veterinary examination results: Both pulse and body temperature are within normal range," the post added. "We would like to thank everyone who offered their support to ensure Neukgu's safe and healthy return. We also apologise to the public for the anxiety and concern has caused," the government said in a statement.Neukgu, who was born in 2024, made its daring breakout by digging out of its enclosure and damaging a fence on the way to freedom. Its escape prompted a local elementary school to close over safety concerns, and the local government dispatched hundreds of firefighters, police officers and military troops in a bid to get it back. A wolf that went missing after escaping from its enclosure in O-world zoo, roams in the zoo premises in Daejeon, South Korea Apr 8, 2026 in this still image of surveillance footage video playing on a screen. Animal rights activists called for better animal protection measures after the wolf's return, noting a 2018 escape from the same facility in which a puma, Bborong, was reportedly shot dead. "The fact that Neukgu has returned to his cage at the zoo does not signify a 'happy ending' to the incident," the Korean Animal Welfare Association said in a statement. After its escape, an image purporting to show a light-brown wolf trotting through a Daejeon intersection was shared widely online. The city government and several major media outlets widely shared the image, which turned out to have been generated by artificial intelligence.Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in ReviewWe know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.
Wolf Escape South Korea Daejeon Zoo Animal Recapture
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