South Korean authorities have deployed thermal imaging 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.

Search Efforts Intensify

More than 300 personnel. Including firefighters. Police officers and military troops. Have been mobilised in the hunt for the animal, Daejeon Fire Headquarters said. The search involves both ground teams and aerial surveillance, with thermal imaging technology playing a major role in tracking the wolf’s movements in low visibility conditions.

Addressing the incident on Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung said in a post on X: ‘I hope no human casualties occur and I pray that Neukgu also returns home safely.’ The president’s comments reflect the concern over public safety and the potential risk posed by the large predator.

A nearby elementary school was closed as a precaution on Thursday after the wolf remained at large, and authorities have urged residents to take care and report any sightings. The closure highlights the precautionary measures being taken to protect the local community from potential danger.

Thermal Imaging Footage Reveals Wolf’s Movements

Thermal imaging footage provided by Korea Wildlife Protection Association showed the wolf moving along a wooded hillside near the zoo on Wednesday, Reuters news agency reported. The footage was captured using specialized equipment that detects heat signatures, allowing officials to track the animal even in darkness or heavy vegetation.

Drone cameras were deployed early on Thursday morning but had to be withdrawn due to heavy rain, an official told AFP news agency, and the weather conditions posed a challenge to the search efforts, as the drones were unable to operate effectively in the downpour.

Zoo officials said the wolf damaged the fence before escaping. An official at Daejeon O-World told The Korea Times newspaper: ‘We conduct daily inspections of each enclosure before opening, and one wolf was missing. After checking CCTV, we confirmed it had dug through the soil at the bottom of the enclosure and escaped.’

Born in 2024, Neukgu was part of a conservation programme aimed at restoring the Korean wolf, a species considered extinct in the wild, according to Reuters. The animal is part of a broader initiative to reintroduce the species into its native habitat, which has not had a wild population in decades.

Unexpected Cultural Impact

The runaway wolf has inspired a meme coin, named ‘Neukgu,’ which appeared on decentralised cryptocurrency exchanges in the last 24 hours, media reported. The coin’s emergence highlights the unexpected cultural impact of the incident, as the animal’s escape has captured public attention beyond the immediate safety concerns.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with no confirmed sightings of the wolf in the past 24 hours. The search is ongoing, and officials remain hopeful that Neukgu will be found safely without causing harm to people or property.

South Korea deploys thermal cameras in its efforts to locate the escaped wolf, showcasing the country’s use of advanced technology in wildlife management. The incident has also raised questions about zoo security measures and the effectiveness of enclosure designs for large predators.