In brief
Neukgu the wolf, who escaped from a zoo in South Korea nine days ago, has finally been captured near an expressway. Authorities confirmed that the wolf, which had become a national sensation during its time on the run, was tranquilized and returned safely to the zoo. Prior to his capture, hundreds of rescue officials had been deployed to track him down. Following a thorough examination, it was reported that Neukgu's health was stable.
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.
