Bear fugitive recaptured

Malaysian Sun Bears. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

A 6-year-old Malaysian Sun Bear, whose normal habitat is the tropical forests of Borneo, was recaptured in the freezing hills around the South Korean capital of Seoul after nine days on the run from Seoul Zoo.

The bear, which Seoul Zoo said may have fled his cage due to his dissatisfaction with his older mate, was the subject of a wide-scale hunt involving hundreds of zoo and police staff, dogs and a helicopter. The bear, described as "small and shy" by the zoo, was lured into a trap using honey and wine.