Wolf instinct: how an escaped South Korean zoo wolf survived nine days on carcasses

The escaped wolf Neukgu is recovering after receiving treatment at an external medical facility Thursday. Courtesy of Daejeon City

By Hankookilbo

• Published Apr 18, 2026 11:16 AM KST

A wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon was captured alive nine days later after surviving in the wild by feeding on animal carcasses and drinking from nearby water sources, according to the authorities.

According to Daejeon city officials on April 17, the wolf, named Neukgu, was captured at around 12:44 a.m. near the Anyeong Interchange on the Daejeon Southern Ring Expressway, about 1 kilometer from Daejeon O-World, from where it had escaped.

The search intensified after a citizen reported spotting the animal near a hiking trail by Ppuri Park on the afternoon of April 16. The authorities initially mistook another animal for the wolf but later identified its location using a drone at around 11:45 p.m.

A team of veterinarians and zookeepers approached the wolf cautiously and fired a tranquilizer dart at 12:39 a.m. The dart struck the wolf in the thigh, and after staggering for about five minutes, the animal fell into a nearby waterway and was captured.

An official said, “The wolf was not moving much when we found it, which allowed us to hit it with the tranquilizer dart,” adding that “it appeared exhausted after failing to feed properly for about 10 days.”

Neukgu was transported to the zoo’s animal hospital and regained consciousness safely at around 4 a.m. Examinations showed normal pulse and body temperature, but further tests revealed a fish hook about 2.6 centimeters long lodged deep inside its stomach, along with leaves and fish bones.

Han So-young, head of Daejeon’s veterinary division, said during a briefing, “The fish hook was positioned deep inside, posing a risk of an emergency, so we sought cooperation from a hospital in Yuseong.” The wolf was later transferred to a secondary hospital, where the hook was safely removed via endoscopy.

Authorities believe that the zoo-raised wolf managed to survive by eating carcasses of fish, rodents and other animals found in nearby hills while staying within a roughly 2-kilometer radius of the zoo. It is also believed to have hydrated itself from puddles and streams.

Kim Jung-ho, a team leader from Cheongju Zoo who participated in the search, said, “The wolf looked thin at the time of rescue because it had not been eating properly,” adding that “fortunately, there is a river near the area it moved through, so it would have been able to drink water.” He added that while carcasses were not ideal food, they likely helped sustain the animal.

The authorities said they would also check the wolf for possible infectious diseases due to its diet during the escape.

The zoo plans to monitor Neukgu’s condition before reintroducing it to other animals. Daejeon O-World, which temporarily closed following the escape, is expected to reopen within seven to ten days.

Daejeon city and Daejeon Urban Corp., which operates the zoo, issued an official apology and said they would conduct a comprehensive audit, consider administrative action, and hold those responsible accountable.

Jung Guk-young, head of the corporation, said, “We sincerely apologize to citizens for the wolf’s escape and the concern it caused,” adding that “we will conduct inspections with external experts and take practical measures to address any identified issues.”

He also said improvements would be made to prevent a recurrence, including reinforcing barriers and analyzing the animal’s behavior. “We will consult experts to implement secondary and tertiary containment measures and strengthen facilities to prevent digging near fences,” he said.

Neukgu, born at the zoo in 2024, escaped April 8 after digging beneath a fence inside the safari enclosure.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.