Wahyu! Lupin 'Neukgu' Kembali ke Habitat Setelah Pengejaran

On 08 April 2026, a two-year-old male wolf named Neukgu escaped from O-World Zoo in Seoul. He dug through the ground and slipped out of his enclosure, sparking widespread alarm among visitors and local residents.

Animal‑rights activists questioned whether Neukgu could survive in the wild and worried that he might be shot during the capture, recalling the 2018 incident when a puma that had escaped from the same zoo was killed.

On 18 April 2026, President Lee Jae Myung stepped in, announcing that police, firefighters, and even the military would be mobilised to bring the wolf back alive.

Search teams first spotted Neukgu near the mountains close to the zoo early in the week, but he slipped away from the encirclement. A viral clip later showed him sprinting along a dark mountain road, illuminated only by a passing vehicle’s headlights.

He was finally located on the early hours of Friday, in the hills beside a toll road. The operation involved drones, emergency responders, and a team of veterinarians. Neukgu was sedated before being transported to the zoo.

Officials reported that the wolf was in a stable condition. A vet discovered and removed a fishing hook from his stomach, and no serious health problems were found.

The city of Daejeon released a video of the evacuation, showing officers lifting the wolf out of a ditch and taking him for medical checks.

On social media, netizens welcomed him back with the comment “Selamat datang kembali,” while others warned, “Neukgu, di luar rumah itu berbahaya.”

Mayor Lee Jang‑woo expressed gratitude, saying, “sangat berterima kasih kepada warga Daejeon dan seluruh masyarakat atas dukungan untuk memastikan Neukgu kembali dengan selamat.”

Born in 2024, Neukgu is the third generation of wolves that were brought from Russia in 2008 as part of a program to reintroduce the Korean wild wolf, which had gone extinct in the 1960s.

Director Lee Kwan Jong announced that the wolf will receive special care in a separate enclosure until he fully recovers and stabilises.

Following the escape, the zoo has shut down operations and is reviewing its security measures. While no reopening date has been set, the recovery of Neukgu remains the top priority, and when the zoo reopens, the wolf is expected to be a key attraction for visitors.

In sum, the nine‑day chase that ended with Neukgu safely back in his habitat illustrates how coordinated efforts between authorities, experts, and the public can resolve wildlife incidents, and it underscores the ongoing commitment to preserving endangered species.

Keberhasilan ini menegaskan pentingnya kerja sama lintas lembaga dalam menjaga keseimbangan ekosistem dan melindungi satwa langka.