Neukgu the Wolf Captured After a Nine-Day Chase in South Korea

Fri Apr 17 2026 10:44:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Neukgu, the two-year-old wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, has been safely captured after a nine-day nationwide search that captivated the public and sparked safety concerns.

A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu, which escaped from a zoo in Daejeon nine days ago, has been successfully recaptured near an expressway. The capture, involving hundreds of rescue officials, concluded a lengthy search that brought together a range of community efforts and public attention. Initially found in good health, Neukgu's adventure raised concerns over animal safety during capture operations, echoing fears from similar past incidents involving escaped zoo animals.

Neukgu, the two-year-old wolf who broke loose from a South Korean zoo and captured the nation's attention, has finally been captured following a nine-day long search.

Neukgu was captured near an expressway on Friday at 00:44 local time (16:44 GMT), according to the government of Daejeon, the central city where his zoo was located.

Upon a medical examination, Neukgu's pulse and body temperature were normal, authorities said.

Hundreds of rescue officials had been deployed to find the wolf, and there were a couple of times when authorities came close to getting him - but each time he would slink away.

Authorities had nearly caught him earlier this week, when the local fire department received a report on Monday night that Neukgu had been spotted on a mountain about 2km (1.2 miles) away from O-World, the zoo and theme park from which he had broken loose.

A video of the wolf scampering on a road in the dark, illuminated by the headlights of a vehicle, circulated on social media.

The elusive Neukgu has inspired a meme coin, hailed by its creators as the 'wolf that wouldn't stay caged' and a 'symbol of independence'.

Born in 2024, Neukgu is part of a programme at O-World to restore the Korean wolf, which once roamed the Korean Peninsula but is now considered extinct in the wild. After a life in captivity, some worried that he wouldn't be able to survive in the wild.

Animal rights groups raised concerns that Neukgu would face harm during the capture process, referencing the case of Porongi, a puma that had escaped from the same zoo in 2018.

Even South Korea's president Lee Jae Myung expressed hope for Neukgu’s safe return on social media.

Authorities launched another search operation in the Anyeong-dong area after receiving a lead, ultimately resulting in Neukgu being caught with a tranquillizer gun before being returned to the zoo. A video of the capture showed Neukgu being transported by rescue officials to a medical facility.

'Thank you to everyone who worked hard to bring Neukgu home,' the city government remarked, expressing gratitude to those concerned for the wolf's safety.