A young wolf named Neukgu has captured national attention in South Korea after escaping from a zoo and evading capture for over a week.
The two-year-old wolf managed to dig under a fence at Daejeon O-World, a zoo and theme park in the city of Daejeon, triggering a large-scale search operation.
🐺 A nationwide search begins
Authorities quickly launched a massive hunt involving more than 300 personnel, including firefighters, police officers, and military units. Despite the scale of the operation, Neukgu has proven difficult to track.
Thermal imaging cameras initially detected him moving through nearby vegetation, appearing as a glowing figure on drone footage. However, officials lost track of him when the drone battery ran out during the operation.
📍 Sightings and near captures
Several sightings have kept the search active. One report placed Neukgu on a mountain about 2km from the zoo. A video shared online showed a wolf running along a road at night, briefly illuminated by vehicle headlights.
Each time authorities closed in, the wolf managed to disappear again by morning, avoiding capture and keeping search teams on high alert.
🌐 Public involvement and confusion
The case has drawn widespread public interest. Residents have reported multiple sightings, though not all have been accurate. Some children mistakenly identified dogs as the escaped wolf, while one resident even attempted to assist using a wolfdog without official coordination.
Adding to the confusion, an image circulating online claimed to show Neukgu wandering through city streets. Authorities later confirmed the image was AI-generated, forcing them to reassess search areas.
⚠️ Past incidents raise concerns
The escape has also revived memories of a previous incident in 2018, when a puma escaped from the same zoo and was later shot by authorities.
Officials continue to urge caution while the search remains ongoing, prioritising both public safety and the safe capture of the animal.
For now, Neukgu remains on the loose, turning the search into one of the most unusual wildlife chases in recent memory.
