Wolf escaped from Daejeon zoo undergoes surgery to remove fishhook after capture

By Kang Min-seon Posted : April 17, 2026, 15:29 Updated : April 17, 2026, 15:30
Courtesy of the Daejeon Seobu Fire Station
Courtesy of the Daejeon Seobu Fire Station
SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - "Neukgu," a wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon last week and was caught after a nine-day search on Friday, is recovering at a veterinary clinic after undergoing surgery to remove a fishhook found in its stomach.

According to Daejeon city officials, an X-ray revealed a 2.6-centimeter fishhook, along with leaves and fish bones. The fishhook, which posed a risk of perforation, was safely removed.

The wolf was captured after rescue workers received a report at around 5:30 p.m. the previous day that it had been spotted near an expressway. After searching surrounding areas for several hours, they located the animal at around 11:45 p.m. and captured it with a tranquilizer gun after midnight.

Officials said its pulse and body temperature were normal.

A video clip released later shows Neukgu being captured after a 30-minute standoff.

The two-year-old male wolf, born at Daejeon O-World, escaped last Wednesday after digging under a wire fence there.

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