Escaped Wolf Neukgu: The Search That Captivated South Korea

Thu Apr 16 2026 09:34:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Neukgu, a young wolf from Daejeon's O-World, has become a national sensation after escaping captivity. The hunt involves over 300 personnel and highlights the balance between wildlife conservation and public safety.

After escaping from a zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, Neukgu the wolf has become the center of an extensive search operation, captivating the nation. Despite efforts by hundreds of firefighters, police, and the military, he remains at large, leading to numerous sightings and a public outpouring of support for his safe return. The situation raises questions about animal welfare and management at zoos.

Last week, a young wolf burrowed under a fence at his zoo in the South Korean city of Daejeon and escaped - becoming the country's newest, furriest fugitive.

Since then, the hunt for two-year-old Neukgu has undergone twists and turns, captivated the country, and even inspired an eponymous meme coin.

Despite the more than 300 firefighters, police officers, and military troops deployed to find him, Neukgu has eluded capture for over a week.

There were some near misses: the day after his escape, Neukgu showed up on thermal imaging cameras as a glowing blob weaving through foliage near Daejeon O-World, the zoo and theme park he had broken loose from.

However, authorities lost track of him while replacing the battery of the camera drone, local media reported.

Another breakthrough occurred Monday night, when the local fire department received a report of Neukgu spotted on a mountain about 2km (1.2 miles) away from O-World.

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

The search for Neukgu has drawn the efforts of the local community, with reports of many sightings, including children mistaking dogs for the escaped wolf.

At one point, a resident attempted to assist the search by bringing their wolfdog, indicating the level of community engagement in the quest to find Neukgu. However, not all reports were fruitful, as it later turned out an image showing Neukgu on a street was AI-generated, falsely leading authorities to believe he had been spotted beyond the zoo.

Many, including President Lee Jae Myung, hope for Neukgu's safe return, reminiscent of a tragic incident in 2018 when a puma that escaped the same zoo was killed by police. As more people rally behind Neukgu, he becomes a symbol of the wildlife that once thrived in Korea.