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Agence France-Presse

A wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea remained at large on Thursday, authorities said, prompting a local school to close over safety concerns as the search continued.
The male wolf – born in 2024 and weighing about 30kg (66lbs) – escaped from O-World, a zoo at a theme park in Daejeon, about 150km (90 miles) south of Seoul, on Wednesday, triggering a wide search in surrounding areas.
It remained at large on Thursday, authorities said, with a nearby school closing for safety.
“Daejeon Sanseong Elementary School is closed today following the escape of a wolf from a zoo yesterday,” the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education said.

More than 300 people – including firefighters, police officers and military troops – are taking part in the search operation, an official from the Daejeon Fire Headquarters said.
“We deployed drone cameras early in the morning but had to pull them back due to the ongoing rain,” he said.
The wolf dug into the ground and damaged the zoo’s installed fence before escaping, according to the fire official.
Images released by local media showed it wandering in the middle of a road.
Cry to save Neukgu
Animal rights groups have issued a joint statement demanding the wolf, named Neukgu, be captured instead of killed, according to The Chosun Daily.
“Although the Geum River Basin Environmental Office has stated that ‘capture’ is prioritised, the presence of hunters means the possibility of the wolf being killed cannot be ruled out, creating a precarious situation depending on the on-site circumstances,” the Animal Freedom Solidarity said in a statement on Wednesday.
“One fact that must be made clear is that Neukgu is the fundamental victim of this incident. The fact that the life of a captive animal may be at stake due to an accident caused by poor management and structural defects at the animal exhibition facility is clearly unjust.”
It said that O-World had not learned any lessons from the escape and subsequent killing of a puma named Porongi in 2018. “We hope Neukgu will be safely captured without repeating Porongi’s fate.”

O-World suspended operations soon after the wolf was discovered to be missing, according to The Korea Times.
Animal rights group Gom Bogeumjari Project criticised O-World for its poor management.
“This accident could have been prevented by simply following the two-person team principle, but zoos fail to adhere to such basic measures, leading to constant accidents,” it said, as quoted by The Chosun Daily.
“Zoos that cannot even provide basic animal care while spouting empty promises must change their management and systems. We hope the wolf, wandering in fear, does not endure excessive suffering.”
In 2023, a male zebra became a global sensation after escaping from a zoo in Seoul and was seen roaming through the streets.
The zebra, named Sero, was eventually cornered in a narrow alley, safely tranquillised and returned to his enclosure without any injuries.
Additional reporting by SCMP’s Asia desk


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South Korean activists howl with rage as escaped wolf faces death

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Rescuer equipped with nets set out to search for Neukgu on Wednesday. Photo: Yonhap/AFP

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Asia

East Asia

The wolf, named Neukgu, tunnelled its way to freedom from a Daejeon zoo, triggering a school closure and search involving over 300 people


The wolf, named Neukgu, tunnelled its way to freedom from a Daejeon zoo, triggering a school closure and search involving over 300 people.


Seoul

Animals

South Korean activists howl with rage as escaped wolf faces death

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The wolf, named Neukgu, tunnelled its way to freedom from a Daejeon zoo, triggering a school closure and search involving over 300 people

The wolf, named Neukgu, tunnelled its way to freedom from a Daejeon zoo, triggering a school closure and search involving over 300 people