In brief
After a two-year-old wolf named Neukgu escaped from the Daejeon O-World zoo, South Korean authorities initiated a massive search operation using heat-seeking cameras and drones. More than 300 personnel from various agencies are involved in the hunt. President Lee Jae Myung expressed hopes for the safe return of the wolf and the safety of nearby residents. The incident has gained public attention, inspiring a meme cryptocurrency named after the wolf and bringing back memories of past animal escapes.
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 mobilised in the hunt for the animal, according to Daejeon Fire Headquarters.
Addressing the incident on Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung stated 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 after the wolf remained at large, and authorities have urged residents to take care and report any sightings.
Thermal imaging footage provided by Korea Wildlife Protection Association showed the wolf moving along a wooded hillside near the zoo on Wednesday, reported Reuters.
Drone cameras were deployed early on Thursday but had to be withdrawn because of heavy rain, an official told AFP news agency.
Zoo officials stated that the wolf damaged the fence before escaping. They confirmed through CCTV that Neukgu had dug through the soil at the bottom of the enclosure.
Born in 2024, Neukgu was part of a conservation program aimed at restoring the Korean wolf, a species considered extinct in the wild, according to Reuters.
The runaway wolf has also inspired a meme coin named 'Neukgu' that appeared on decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges in the last 24 hours. The escape incident has sparked comparisons with previous animal escapes, including that of a zebra named Sero in 2023.
