"Why feed it on the ground instead of in a bowl?" As controversy grows over wolf Neukgu's feeding, Daejeon O-World cites its animal welfare manual
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- 2026-04-22 07:44:38
- Updated
- 2026-04-22 07:44:38
[The Financial News] The wolf Neukgu, which escaped from Daejeon O-World and was later captured, has become a hot topic. Amid intense public attention, Daejeon O-World released a video showing Neukgu being fed. When the feeding method drew criticism, the park even had to issue an explanation.
On the 21st, Daejeon Urban Corporation, which operates Daejeon O-World, said in a press release, "Some people pointed out that the food shown in the video released by Daejeon O-World was placed on the ground," adding, "For a wild animal like a wolf, food is not usually provided in a separate container."
The explanation came in response to a recent video of Neukgu that Daejeon O-World posted on social networking service (SNS). In the video, Neukgu is seen cautiously eating meat placed on the ground in an isolated area. Some users criticized the fact that the meat was set on the floor rather than in a bowl.
Daejeon O-World stressed that the location in the video was not ordinary open ground, but a "special concrete floor" that is thoroughly disinfected every day. The animal care team explained that predators such as wolves naturally carry food away to a safe place before tearing it apart, so ground feeding is recommended under the animal welfare manual.
The park added, "Neukgu is currently in a sensitive condition and does not eat well unless food is provided in the usual way," and "The location in the video is a temporary isolation area, and after recovery, Neukgu is scheduled to be moved to the 'Wolf Safari' where it originally lived." It was also confirmed that Neukgu is being fed raw chicken and beef mixed with special vitamins and iron supplements to help speed recovery.
Meanwhile, Neukgu, who initially refused feed after being captured, is now steadily eating an average of 1.5 to 2 kilograms of raw meat a day and has recovered to about 80% of a normal meal intake.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter