South Korea Uses Tech to Track Down Runaway Wolf from Zoo

Fri Apr 10 2026 22:02:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a dramatic wildlife rescue effort, South Korean authorities deploy thermal imaging cameras and drones to locate Neukgu, a two-year-old wolf that escaped from Daejeon O-World zoo.

Authorities in South Korea have launched an extensive search for Neukgu, a two-year-old wolf who escaped from a zoo in Daejeon. The search involves more than 300 personnel, drones, and thermal imaging technology, reflecting a high level of concern for both public safety and the animal's well-being. The incident has also sparked interest in local conservation efforts and led to the creation of a meme coin inspired by the runaway wolf.

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, Daejeon Fire Headquarters said.

Addressing the incident on Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung expressed hope for a safe return of Neukgu, both for the animal and for public safety.

A nearby elementary school was closed as a precaution, and residents have been urged to report any sightings of the wolf. Thermal imaging footage has confirmed the wolf was seen moving near the zoo.

Despite the deployment of drones, adverse weather conditions have proven challenging for the search efforts. Zoo officials have stated that the wolf escaped after damaging the fence.

Neukgu was part of a conservation project aimed at reinstating the Korean wolf population—a species considered extinct in the wild. This incident has even led to the creation of a meme coin named 'Neukgu', reflecting the public's fascination with the situation.

This event draws comparisons to a similar incident in 2023 when a zebra named Sero escaped from a zoo in Seoul.