South Koreans breathe sighs of relief as escaped wolf is returned to zoo safely
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Neukgu, a 2-year-old wolf that escaped from O-World zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, was safely captured after a nine-day nationwide search that captivated the public and raised safety concerns.
- Authorities used drones, police, emergency workers, and veterinarians to locate and tranquilize Neukgu, who was found near an expressway and returned to the zoo in stable condition after removing a fishing hook from his stomach.
- The escape sparked widespread social media reactions and a statement from President Lee Jae Myung, assuring the public that efforts were focused on capturing the wolf alive.
- Neukgu, born at the zoo in 2024 and descended from wolves reintroduced from Russia, will be kept separately and cared for until fully recovered, while the zoo reviews security measures and remains temporarily closed.
- The zoo, criticized for previous animal escapes, plans to prioritize Neukgu's recovery and anticipates he will be a major attraction upon reopening.
