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[1] A wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea was caught last month. The young male wolf was named Neukgu. He escaped from his enclosure in Daejeon on April 8. Neukgu was missing for nine days.
[2] The police sent out many officers and drones to find Neukgu. He was very hard to catch and kept escaping. He was finally caught in the early hours of April 17. The Daejeon city government posted on X: “Welcome back, #Neukgu!”
[3] Police found the 30kg fugitive after someone saw him in a park in Daejeon. They shot Neukgu with a tranquilliser dart to catch him safely. The city government posted a video of nighttime rescuers moving a sleepy Neukgu onto a bag before lifting him into a crate.
[4] It also shared pictures on X of Neukgu asleep on a veterinary bed. He had a muzzle on his mouth. “Veterinary examination results: Both pulse and body temperature are within normal range,” the post said. “We would like to thank everyone who offered their support to ensure Neukgu’s safe and healthy return. We also apologise to the public for the anxiety and concern [this incident] has caused,” the government said.
[5] Neukgu was born in 2024. He escaped by digging out of his enclosure at the zoo. He also damaged a fence on his way to freedom. His breakout prompted a local primary school to close over safety concerns. The local government sent out hundreds of firefighters, police officers and military troops to get him back.
[6] Animal rights activists called for better animal protection measures after Neukgu’s return. They mentioned a similar event in 2018. A puma named Bborong escaped from the same zoo. Unfortunately, the animal was shot and killed. “The fact that Neukgu has returned to his cage at the zoo does not signify a ‘happy ending’ to the incident,” said the Korean Animal Welfare Association in a statement.
[7] After his escape, a picture of a light-brown wolf walking down a street in Daejeon was shared widely online. Even members of the city government and large news sources shared the picture. However, it was not a real photo of Neukgu. It was actually generated by AI.
Source: Agence France-Presse, April 17
