Wolf Escaped from Daejeon O-World Captured After Ten Days

Daejeon City Hall exterior view (Photo by Seokbong Mo)

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The Korean wolf "Neukgu" (born in 2024, male), which escaped from the wolf safari at Daejeon O-World, was captured alive in healthy condition in the Anyeong-dong area of Jung-gu, Daejeon at approximately 00:44 on the 17th, ten days after its escape.

Neukgu had dug under the fence of the wolf enclosure and escaped at around 9:15 a.m. on the 8th. The city immediately set up and operated an emergency response task force, and began search and capture efforts in cooperation with relevant agencies and experts.

The city prioritized citizen safety, but also conducted the search with the principle of live capture in mind, considering the Korean wolf's status as a Class I endangered wild species and the importance of respecting life and species conservation.

Although the search faced difficulties due to worsening weather such as rain and confusion caused by manipulated photos generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the pace of the capture increased when a meaningful tip was received at around 5:40 p.m. on the 16th.

Through intensive searching using thermal imaging drones and cameras, Neukgu was spotted at 11:45 p.m., and after continued tracking, his location was finally confirmed near the Anyeong IC roundabout at 00:17 on the 17th. A tranquilizer dart was then fired, and the live capture was completed at 00:44.

After being captured, Neukgu was transported back to O-World, where a health check showed that both his pulse and body temperature were normal. Once his condition stabilizes, he is expected to be returned to the safari.

A total of 3,163 people participated in the capture operation, including the city’s Environmental Bureau, fire department, police, military, the Wildlife Management Association, the Ecology Institute, and other related organizations and civic groups. Additionally, 285 pieces of equipment were deployed, including thermal imaging drones and cameras, GPS capture traps, and capture cages.

Changyong Moon, Director of the Daejeon City Environmental Bureau, stated, "Neukgu's movements were very agile, which made the search and capture challenging, but thanks to continuous tips and cooperation from citizens, we were able to capture him safely." He added, "We will continue to make efforts to prevent the recurrence of animal escape incidents at zoos and to preserve biodiversity."

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