Zoo officials confirmed that one of their wolves had gone missing after escaping its enclosure at the O-World zoo by digging through the soil at the bottom, as confirmed by CCTV footage. The wolf damaged the zoo's installed fence before fleeing, with initial sightings showing it roaming the streets of Daejeon shortly after the escape, as pictured in urban areas, prompting immediate concerns from local authorities.
The escaped wolf is a male, two years old, and weighs nearly 30 kilograms, according to multiple reports. Visual evidence of its movements was captured in footage released by the fire department, which showed the wolf walking down a street before crossing a road, indicating it had ventured into populated neighborhoods. This footage has been used to guide the search efforts and assess potential risks to public safety.
A large-scale search operation was launched, involving about 300 people, including 35 firefighters, 116 police and military personnel, and 100 zoo employees, as reported by the Daejeon fire department. Drone cameras were deployed early in the morning to aid in the search but had to be pulled back due to ongoing rain, complicating efforts to locate the animal. The operation focused on areas near the zoo and surrounding streets, with teams working through the night and into Thursday.
Public safety measures were swiftly implemented, with the city government sending an emergency text message alerting residents to the presence of the wolf and advising caution. Additionally, Daejeon Sanseong Elementary School, located less than 30 minutes away from the zoo, was closed as a precaution.
Key unknowns remain as the search continues, including the exact location where the wolf was last seen or is currently hiding, and whether it has caused any injuries or damage to property since escaping. The specific time of the escape from the enclosure has not been disclosed, and the current status of the search operation, including any updated plans for capture, is unclear. It is also unknown how long the school closure will last or if other institutions in the area are affected by the incident.