South Korea’s Runaway Wolf Finally Captured After Nine-Day Search

After a week-long pursuit, Neukgu, the two-year-old wolf that fled from a South Korean zoo, was recaptured near an expressway on Friday at 00:44 local time (16:44 GMT), as confirmed by the Daejeon city government. The animal, which had become a national sensation, was found in the Anyeong-dong area, where authorities conducted a final operation following a tip-off. During the examination, officials reported that Neukgu’s vital signs, including pulse and body temperature, were stable.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Rescue teams had been actively tracking Neukgu since his escape, deploying hundreds of personnel to scour the region. Despite moments when the wolf appeared within reach, he often slipped away, evading capture. One such instance occurred earlier in the week, when a fire department received a report on Monday night indicating Neukgu had been sighted on a mountain approximately 2km (1.2 miles) from O-World, the zoo and theme park where he originated. A video capturing the wolf darting across a dark road, lit by a vehicle’s headlights, quickly went viral on social media.

Authorities launched a rapid response to the clue, but Neukgu managed to escape again, demonstrating his elusive nature. The city government later shared footage of the successful capture, showing the wolf being guided into a carrier. The video highlighted the efforts of rescuers who subdued him with care, ensuring minimal stress during the process.

Meme Coin and Conservation Context

Neukgu’s adventure sparked a viral trend, inspiring a meme coin promoted as a representation of the “wolf that wouldn’t stay caged” and a “symbol of independence.” Born in 2024, the wolf is part of a restoration initiative at O-World aimed at reviving the Korean wolf, once native to the Korean Peninsula but now extinct in the wild. Concerns arose about his ability to adapt to life in the wild, given his time in captivity.

“Thank you to everyone who worked hard to bring Neukgu home,” the Daejeon city government wrote on social media. “To everyone who worried about Neukgu’s safety and cheered us on, thank you all so much.”

Animal rights groups had also feared Neukgu might be harmed during the operation, recalling the fate of Porongi, a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018 and was later killed in a capture attempt. Even South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, publicly expressed hope for Neukgu’s safe return, sharing a message of prayer on social media. Now, with the wolf safely in custody, those anxieties have been eased.