Runaway wolf finally captured after viral nine day manhunt

After a country-wide search, a wolf that escaped from a South Korean zoo has been caught.

Neukgu, a young wolf who escaped from a zoo in Daejeon on April 8th, became a surprising internet star after staying on the run for more than a week. News and social media posts kept everyone updated on the search.

Police, firefighters, and military teams worked together in a major operation, and residents nearby received alerts urging them to be careful.

Local schools were put on alert due to ongoing wolf sightings, and search teams responded to numerous locations. After nine days, the wolf was finally caught.

Wolf who escaped from zoo has been captured

Reuters reports that the search for Neukgu ended on April 17th when officials found him near a highway. They then used a tranquilizer to safely capture him and returned him to the zoo he had escaped from.

Officials reported that after being caught, the animal’s vital signs were stable and he hadn’t lost much weight. Veterinarians were able to successfully remove a fishing hook from his stomach.

Welcome back, Neukgu! After a nine-day search, the wolf who escaped from a South Korean zoo has been recaptured and returned to his enclosure. The young male, named Neukgu, had dug his way out and remained free for nearly a week before being found.

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 17, 2026

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo expressed his relief at the wolf’s return and thanked everyone who participated in the search. He stated the city will improve both animal welfare and public safety as they review operations at the zoo.

Neukgu isn’t the only animal getting attention this year. In China, seven dogs recently became famous for escaping and traveling about 10.5 miles – all in the chase for another dog’s tail!

2026-04-17 17:48

Wolf who escaped from zoo has been captured

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