Neukgu Captured After Ten Days... No Health Issues Detected

Captured Successfully with Tranquilizer Dart at Dawn on the 17th
"Safely Transferred Back to O-World"

On the morning of the 17th, veterinarians and staff at Daejeon O-World in Sajung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, were checking the condition of the wolf, Wookoo, who had been shot with a tranquilizer dart. Photo by Yonhap News

On April 17, the two-year-old wolf "Neukgu," who had been missing for ten days after escaping from the Daejeon O-World safari on April 8, safely returned home.

According to Daejeon City on the 17th, authorities captured Neukgu near the Anyoung Interchange (IC) on the Daejeon Southern Ring Expressway in Anyoung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, at approximately 12:44 AM that day, and transferred the wolf back to O-World.

The search authorities began searching the area after receiving a report at around 5:30 PM the previous day that a wolf had been spotted near Ppuri Park in Chimsan-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon. At approximately 9:54 PM, they identified an animal believed to be Neukgu nearby, but it turned out to be a badger, prompting them to resume their search.

On the morning of the 17th, veterinarians and other officials from Daejeon O-World in Sajung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, are checking the condition of the wolf, Lugoo, who was shot with a tranquilizer dart. Photo by Yonhap News

Later, at around 11:45 PM near Anyoung IC, they located the actual Neukgu, and at about 12:15 AM on the 17th, they launched a capture operation that lasted roughly 30 minutes. After preparing a tranquilizer dart and confirming Neukgu's location, they approached and, under the supervision of a veterinarian, successfully captured the wolf using the tranquilizer.

According to the veterinarian, Neukgu is currently under sedation, but all vital signs, including pulse and body temperature, are reported to be normal. An official from the search authorities stated, "Neukgu has been safely transferred back to O-World," adding, "So far, there are no health issues, and we are monitoring his condition until the anesthesia wears off."

A 'Shawshank Escape' for Wolves... Search Prolonged

At around 9:18 AM on April 8, Neukgu escaped from Daejeon O-World by digging under the safari's wire fence. Although the search began immediately after the escape, Neukgu remained elusive.

The last confirmed sighting was at about 1:30 AM on April 9, the day after the escape. At that time, Neukgu was caught on a thermal imaging camera in a hill near O-World, but after losing track of him during drone operations, his whereabouts became unknown.

The wolf 'Neukgu' was sighted around 10:43 PM on the 13th in a mountain near O-World. The photo is a still from a video taken by a citizen who witnessed the event. Photo by Yonhap News.

The search was prolonged after that. The search authorities deployed over ten drones within a 6-kilometer radius of O-World and also investigated tracks and droppings, but failed to find any significant clues.

A Wave of Support After News of Survival After Ten Days

News that Neukgu was safely captured and returned sparked an enthusiastic response from online users. Comments included, "Thank you, Neukgu, for hanging in there for ten days," "It must have been so scary in the mountains," "I’m so relieved that there were no injuries and that Neukgu is safe," "Did you enjoy seeing the world during that time?" "You must have missed your family," and "I’ll definitely visit you at O-World."

However, criticism also arose regarding inadequate management. Some online users said, "It’s unbelievable that a wild animal wandered near the city for ten days," and "As a parent, the last ten days were terrifying," criticizing O-World’s lax security system. There are growing calls for a comprehensive review of the animal care environment and management system to prevent a recurrence.

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