DAEJEON — Neukgu, a wolf that burrowed out of his enclosure at the O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8, 2026, was safely captured on April 17, 2026, after a nine-day search. The wolf was tranquilized early that morning on a hill near an expressway following an hours-long operation involving drones, police, emergency workers and veterinarians, according to city and zoo officials.

Authorities had nearly captured Neukgu earlier in the week after spotting him on a mountain near the zoo, but he broke away from a perimeter set by rescue workers. A driver later spotted him trotting along a dark mountain road and shared a video of the wolf lit by vehicle headlights.

The search drew national attention. Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and worried that he might be killed during capture. A puma that escaped from O-World in 2018 was killed during capture. President Lee Jae Myung issued a statement reassuring the public that police, fire officials and the military were doing their best to capture the wolf alive.

Daejeon officials released social media videos showing rescuers pulling Neukgu from a ditch, placing him in a carrier, and the wolf undergoing medical examinations at the zoo. Veterinarians found him in stable condition after he was returned. Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo wrote on Facebook following the capture: "I am deeply grateful to citizens of Daejeon and the entire nation for their support in ensuring Neukgu's safe return."

O-World director Lee Kwan Jong said Neukgu will be kept in a separate area from other animals and receive care until he has fully recovered and stabilized. The zoo closed following the escape and has not decided when it will reopen. Officials said the zoo is reviewing its security measures and will prioritize Neukgu's recovery.

Neukgu was born at O-World in 2024. He is a third-generation descendant of wolves brought from Russia to the zoo in 2008 as part of a project to reintroduce wolves resembling those that lived in the Korean wild before going extinct in the 1960s. Social media posts celebrated the wolf's return after his capture on April 17.