Neukgu, the two-year-old wolf who broke loose from a South Korean zoo and captured the nation's attention, has finally been captured following a nine-day-long search.
Captured near an expressway at 00:44 local time (16:44 GMT), officials from Daejeon have confirmed the successful retrieval of Neukgu.
After the capture, Neukgu underwent a medical examination, revealing that his pulse and body temperature were normal, alleviating initial concerns about his well-being.
Hundreds of rescue officials had mobilized to find the wolf; despite some near-capture incidents, Neukgu consistently evaded capture during the search, leading to nationwide interest and even memes.
Neukgu's journey began when he escaped from the O-World zoo in Daejeon, where he was part of a conservation program aimed at restoring the Korean wolf, now considered extinct in the wild.
Authorities were particularly concerned about the capture process due to fears stemming from a previous incident involving a puma, Porongi, who was killed during a capture attempt in 2018.
The successful capture of Neukgu was celebrated across social media, including messages of gratitude from the city government and even a prayer for his safety from South Korea's president.
In capturing Neukgu, authorities utilized a tranquillizer gun, successfully returning him to the zoo where he will receive ongoing medical attention and care.
