The 2-year-old wolf Neuk-gu is back in his enclosure after a daring nine-day escape that ended in emergency surgery. Captured on April 17, the animal was found in a forest just 2 kilometers from the Daejeon O-World zoo.
The midnight rescue mission commenced like a scene from a movie. The retrieval team used drones and thermal cameras to track Neuk-gu’s movements in the dark. A veterinarian hid behind a tree and fired a single tranquilizer dart, hitting his hind leg. Even after being tranquilized, the wolf led keepers on a final 500-meter chase before falling asleep in a shallow ditch.
While the wolf’s pulse and temperature were normal, X-rays revealed a dangerous 2.6-centimeter-long fishhook lodged in his stomach. Vets believe he swallowed it while eating a discarded fish in the wild. He is currently recovering after a successful operation to remove the piece of metal.
Investigations showed that Neuk-gu escaped by digging a hole under a rusty underground fence and leaping over a 2-meter wall. Experts suggest the wolf, which was raised by humans, may have fled due to extreme stress. The incident has sparked fresh criticism of the zoo’s security, which previously experienced a major animal escape involving a puma in 2018.
J.K. Park Senior Reporter junior/1778651978/1613367801
1. How long did the wolf remain outside its enclosure?
2. What tools were used to track the wolf at night?
3. Where was the fishhook discovered inside the wolf?
4. What caused experts to think the wolf escaped?
1. Do you think zoos should improve animal safety systems?
2. How would you feel seeing a wild animal escape?
3. Should humans be more careful with waste in nature?
4. Do animals feel stress when living in zoos?
The 2-year-old wolf Neuk-gu is back in his enclosure after a daring nine-day escape that ended in emergency surgery. Captured on April 17, the animal was found in a forest just 2 kilometers from the Daejeon O-World zoo.
