Overview
- The wolf, which escaped Wednesday morning by digging under a fence at O-World in Daejeon, remains missing as the search continues into Friday.
- Roughly 300 personnel from fire, police, military and zoo teams are sweeping wooded hills near the park using drones with thermal cameras and human perimeter lines.
- Authorities have moved to a passive capture plan that relies on bait, 22 traps placed along fence lines, and recorded wolf howls and visitor announcements to draw the animal back.
- Rain has repeatedly limited drone flights and the use of tracking dogs, and a nearby elementary school closed Thursday as a safety precaution after street sightings raised concern.
- Zoo safety is under renewed scrutiny after a 2018 puma escape ended in euthanasia, a contrast to a 2023 zebra case in Seoul that ended with a tranquilizer and a safe return.