Escaped Wolf at Daejeon Theme Park Prompts School Closure as 300+ Searchers Mobilise

A wolf that escaped from a zoo inside a theme park near Daejeon remained at large on Thursday, prompting the nearby Daejeon Sanseong Elementary School to close as a safety precaution while search teams continued their efforts.

The male wolf, born in 2024 and weighing about 30 kilograms, slipped out of its enclosure after digging under and damaging the zoo's perimeter fence on Wednesday. The theme park is located roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Seoul.

Large-Scale Search Underway

Authorities said more than 300 personnel — including firefighters, police officers and military units — were involved in the search. Drone cameras were deployed early Thursday but were temporarily withdrawn because of heavy rain, officials said.

"Daejeon Sanseong Elementary School is closed today following the escape of a wolf from a zoo yesterday," a spokesperson for the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education told AFP. Local fire officials confirmed the wolf had damaged the fence before fleeing.

Public Safety and Media Reports

Images released by local media showed the animal walking in the middle of a road, raising concerns among residents and school officials. Authorities have urged the public to stay indoors and to report any sightings to emergency services immediately.

Past Incident Recalled

The episode evoked memories of a 2023 incident in Seoul when a zebra named Sero escaped from a zoo and roamed city streets before being cornered, tranquilised and returned safely to its enclosure.

What officials ask of the public: Do not approach the animal. Contact local authorities with sighting details and location coordinates if possible.