Escaped wolf Neukgu returned to South Korean zoo after nine-day search involving thermal imaging drones

A wolf who escaped a South Korean zoo 9 days ago, captivating planetary attention, has been recovered and safely returned.

Neukgu burrowed his mode retired of the O-World zoo and taxable parkland successful Daejeon, southbound of Seoul, connected April 8.

His hunt kept the state connected borderline arsenic galore disquieted for the 2-year-old wolf 8 years aft a puma named Bbo-rong was changeable and killed hours aft it escaped from the aforesaid zoo.

Neukgu was seen respective times earlier helium was captured, including connected surveillance video.

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Neukgu was connected the tally for 9 days earlier helium was captured. (Daejeon Municipality via AP; Daejeon City Corporation/Reuters)

He was besides seen adjacent a road astir 3 miles from the zoo, a zoo authoritative said.

The carnal was captured conscionable aft midnight connected Friday aft helium was changeable by a veterinarian utilizing a tranquilizer gun.

His captious signs were mean pursuing a wellness check, but a food hook was removed from his stomach, zoo officials said.

https://cms.foxnews.com/wp/wp-admin/upload.php?item=7278933 ((Daejeon City Corporation/Reuters))

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Neukgu, calved successful captivity successful 2024, is portion of a breeding programme to bring up the numbers of the Korean wolf, which is considered extinct successful the wild.

A veterinarian examines the information of a antheral wolf named Neukgu astatine Daejeon O-World taxable parkland successful Daejeon, South Korea, connected April 17, 2026. (Daejeon Municipality/AP)

He is of the 3rd procreation of wolves brought to South Korea from Russia to reintroduce an carnal akin to the Korean wolf, which went extinct successful the 1960s.

Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo expressed his gratitude for those progressive successful the hunt for bring Neukgu backmost safely, and pledged connected Facebook to "prepare measures for carnal ​welfare and civilian information successful the process of reorganising (the zoo)."

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The extended hunt included drones with thermal representation cameras.

Neukgu escaped an earlier effort astatine seizure erstwhile helium evaded a perimeter acceptable for him connected a upland adjacent the zoo.

South Koreans were enthralled by Neukgu’s escape, with immoderate calling him an "honorary ambassador for the zoo." He adjacent sparked an eponymous cryptocurrency meme.

Veterinarians and unit analyse the antheral wolf Neukgu astatine Daejeon O-World taxable parkland successful Daejeon, South Korea, connected April 17, 2026. (Daejeon Municipality/AP)

Fans of the wolf lit up societal media aft his rescue, writing, "welcome back" and "Neukgu, it’s unsafe extracurricular the house."

After Neukgu’s flight past week, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung wrote connected X: "Currently, the police, occurrence services, and subject are mobilizing their afloat resources to guarantee a harmless seizure and return. I sincerely anticipation that nary casualties occur, and I commune that Neukgu, too, returns safely and unharmed."

O-World remains closed pursuing Neukgu’s return, arsenic it faces scrutiny pursuing arsenic bid of carnal escapes. A adjacent simple schoolhouse besides concisely closed aft his flight for information reasons.

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Lee Kwan Jong, manager of O-World, said that Neukgu volition beryllium kept abstracted from the different animals until helium has recovered.

Zoo officials said they aren’t definite erstwhile O-World volition reopen arsenic they reappraisal information measures, with the manager adding that Neukgu’s wellness volition instrumentality precedence.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.