A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu, whose dramatic escape from a South Korean zoo sparked a nationwide search, has been safely captured after eluding authorities for nine days.
Neukgu was finally tranquilized and secured near an expressway in the early hours of Friday morning, according to officials in Daejeon, the central city where he escaped from the O-World zoo and theme park. Medical examinations confirmed the wolf was in stable condition with normal vital signs.
"Thank you to everyone who worked hard to bring Neukgu home," the Daejeon city government posted on social media. "To everyone who worried about Neukgu's safety and cheered us on, thank you all so much."
The capture ended an intensive search operation that deployed hundreds of rescue personnel and captured public imagination. Authorities reported several near-misses during the week-long pursuit, with Neukgu repeatedly slipping through their nets.
Neukgu's escape and subsequent evasion inspired a cryptocurrency meme coin and even drew attention from South Korea's president, who publicly expressed hope for the wolf's safe return. Animal rights groups had voiced concerns about the capture process, particularly after a puma named Porongi was killed during a similar escape from the same zoo in 2018.
Authorities located Neukgu on Thursday evening following a tip-off in the Anyeong-dong area. Rescuers fired a tranquilizer dart from approximately 20 meters away, then monitored the wolf via drone as the sedative took effect over six minutes. Video footage showed the limp animal being carefully transported back to the zoo.
Medical staff discovered a fishing hook in Neukgu's stomach during examination, which was successfully removed through endoscopic surgery. Officials noted the wolf appeared well-nourished despite his time on the run.
Neukgu was born in 2024 as part of a conservation program to restore the Korean wolf population, which is considered extinct in the wild despite once roaming freely across the Korean Peninsula. His nine-day adventure has now concluded with his safe return to captivity.