In mid-August, a large operation began near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two tigers were carefully placed into carriers and moved into transport containers. They were joining 28 other big cats for a journey across three continents. They are leaving behind a zoo that had become a symbol of animal mistreatment.
The departure on August 14 ended a difficult time for thirty lions and tigers at the former Luján Zoo. This zoo, located about 70 kilometers from the capital, was once known for letting visitors touch and feed dangerous animals. In 2020, Argentine authorities closed the zoo due to serious safety and animal welfare problems.
However, the animals continued to suffer. When the zoo closed, it had about 200 big cats. By 2023, only 112 remained. When the animal protection group Four Paws took over the facility, just 62 cats were still alive.
Luciana D'Abramo from Four Paws explained that the large decrease in animals shows the severe overcrowding and poor conditions they endured. The surviving cats had many health problems, including malnutrition, muscle loss, and obesity. Many had untreated wounds, kidney issues, bad teeth, and pain from having their claws removed. Some could barely move and needed medicine to handle the move.
Months of preparation were done for the animals. Starting in November 2025, the cats received vaccinations and treatments. Four Paws staff also trained former zoo employees in modern animal care. The cats were even taught to walk into their transport crates willingly.
The journey is very complex. It is one of the largest transfers of captive big cats ever. Fifteen cats are flying to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, USA. The other fifteen are going to Lionsrock, a Four Paws sanctuary in South Africa. Their route includes stops in Europe before flying to Johannesburg and then driving to their final homes.
The cats will be awake during the entire trip, as sedation is too risky for large felines. At the sanctuaries, the animals will have large, natural habitats designed for their well-being, not for entertainment. The Argentine government is also working with Four Paws to ban the private ownership of exotic big cats to prevent future tragedies.
"We are doing everything to make this go as smoothly as possible so we can celebrate that 30 lives have improved because of this effort," said D'Abramo.
More than 20 lions and tigers remain at the closed zoo, waiting for their chance to leave.