Startled by Drone While Resting: Neukgu Shows Unexpected Survival Skills Despite Lack of Wild Experience

Captured on Thermal Camera
Concealed Among Fallen Leaves, Remains Alert
Search Team: "Capture Attempts Will Continue"

The recent appearance of "Neukgu," the wolf that escaped from Daejeon O-World Safari, has been captured through drone footage, drawing significant attention from the public. Over a week has passed since the escape, yet Neukgu has not been captured, heightening both concerns and interest regarding the wolf's survival status and movement route.

According to Daejeon City and the Daejeon Fire Headquarters on April 16, Neukgu was spotted on April 14 in the grassy mountains near Musu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon.

Daejeon City Instagram

The recently released drone footage shows Neukgu captured relatively clearly using both a regular camera and a thermal imaging camera. In the video, Neukgu is seen resting while deeply concealed within a pile of fallen leaves. The wolf kept its body low in colors similar to the surrounding environment, making it difficult to spot from the outside—behavior interpreted as typical wild animal concealment. Notably, when the drone approached, Neukgu immediately reacted by lifting its head and scanning the surroundings, demonstrating a high level of alertness.

Daejeon City Instagram

Afterward, Neukgu briefly looked around to assess the situation before returning to its original spot, lowering its body and lying down again. This behavior is believed to help conserve energy by minimizing unnecessary movement. The search team planned to attempt capture during Neukgu's rest periods, but the wolf's reactions have been much more sensitive than anticipated, making the operation challenging. Due to its tendency to respond immediately to even slight sounds or movements, getting close is difficult, and there is a risk that further provocation could cause Neukgu to move to a wider area.

Previously, on April 8, Neukgu escaped from its enclosure in O-World Safari in the morning. It was confirmed that the wolf dug under the wire fence to get out, and since the escape, there have been intermittent sightings in the surrounding mountains and farmland. However, capture efforts have so far been unsuccessful. Initially, concerns were raised about Neukgu's survival because it was raised in captivity and lacked hunting experience in the wild, making it vulnerable if it could not secure food. Nevertheless, recent observations suggest that Neukgu is demonstrating a higher-than-expected level of adaptability.

In particular, Neukgu reportedly displayed outstanding athletic ability during the escape, such as leaping over retaining walls 3 to 4 meters high. This is an example of the wolf’s unique jumping power and strength, and is cited as one of the reasons why capture is not easy. Wolves are generally known for their stamina and their habit of roaming across wide areas, which makes them difficult animals to track.

Daejeon City Instagram

Additionally, Neukgu is believed to be most active at night or during the early morning hours. Wolves are inherently nocturnal and tend to avoid contact with people. While this trait is positive from the standpoint of citizen safety, it adds to the difficulty of search operations. Daejeon City and fire authorities continue to search using drones and thermal imaging equipment, while also reinforcing the operation by deploying additional capture equipment and specialized personnel. Their top priority is to ensure the safety of both Neukgu and the public during the capture process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.