Search Intensifies for Runaway Wolf in South Korea

Fri Apr 10 2026 21:37:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities mobilize drones and heat-seeking cameras in a frantic search for Neukgu, a wolf that escaped from Daejeon O-World zoo, as more than 300 personnel take part in the hunt.

A two-year-old wolf named Neukgu escaped from a South Korean zoo, prompting a search involving over 300 personnel, thermal cameras, and drones. The feral animal has been sighted near the zoo, and authorities have closed a nearby school for safety. The president has called for the animal's safe return, which has captured the attention of the public and inspired a meme coin. The wolf's escape has drawn parallels to a previous incident involving a zebra in Seoul.

South Korean authorities have deployed heat-seeking cameras and drones in a widening search for a runaway wolf that has been on the loose for three days after escaping from a zoo.

The two-year-old male, named Neukgu, burrowed under a fence at Daejeon O-World zoo and theme park in the central city of Daejeon on Wednesday, officials said.

More than 300 personnel - including firefighters, police officers, and military troops - have been mobilized in the hunt for the animal, Daejeon Fire Headquarters said.

Addressing the incident on Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope on social media: I hope no human casualties occur and I pray that Neukgu also returns home safely.

A nearby elementary school was closed as a precaution on Thursday after the wolf remained at large, prompting officials to urge residents to be vigilant and report any sightings.

Thermal imaging footage provided by Korea Wildlife Protection Association showed the wolf moving along a wooded hillside near the zoo, according to reports.

Drone cameras were deployed early Thursday morning but had to be withdrawn due to heavy rain, an official told AFP news agency.

Zoo officials confirmed that the wolf had damaged the fence prior to its escape. An official from Daejeon O-World stated: We conduct daily inspections of each enclosure before opening, and one wolf was missing. After checking CCTV, we confirmed it had dug through the soil at the bottom of the enclosure and escaped.

Born in 2024, Neukgu was part of a conservation programme aimed at restoring the Korean wolf, a species considered extinct in the wild, according to Reuters.

The incident has gained traction, inspiring a meme coin named 'Neukgu' on decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges within the last 24 hours.

This episode has drawn comparisons to a 2023 escape incident involving a zebra named Sero from a zoo in Seoul.