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Lion in capitivity at a former zoo

Emergency Mission Argentina


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#EmergencyMissionArgentina

A turning point for the animals of a former zoo — and one of our most complex missions to date

In August 2025, we accepted the invitation by the government of Argentina and the management of the former Zoo Luján, in the province of Buenos Aires, to conduct an initial assessment of the animals living there. This was a first step in delivering on an important Memorandum of Understanding with the government, with the aim of securing legislative reforms that strengthen animal welfare standards for big cats across the country and prevent future welfare emergencies.  

The former zoo was closed down due to animal welfare concerns, and our assessment raised serious concerns over the safety, health and well-being of over 60 big cats and two bears still housed there. Therefore, on 1 September 2025, we agreed to take on full responsibility for the care of the animals, including the husbandry management, veterinary care, and associated running costs. By taking this step, we have embarked on one of our largest and most complex emergency missions to date. The situation is heartbreaking — as these animals have spent years without adequate care, space or enrichment. We have ensured that their basic needs are met by feeding them and keeping them safe while we plan for their long-term solutions. A small FOUR PAWS team also arrived on site in September to address their immediate needs and prepare for veterinary assessments — but this is just the beginning.

In October 2025, a large team of experts will attend to the big cats and bears. We will conduct thorough health checks and provide urgent medical care and treatments to the animals in desperate need. We are committed to finding species-appropriate solutions and to ensuring that each animal has a brighter, happier future. Your support will help us give them the second chance they deserve.

Follow the timeline below for updates on this emergency mission.

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December 2025

The Full Recap — #EmergencyMissionArgentina 

What you don't always see online is the mountain of work behind the scenes: extensive paperwork, logistics, coordination with authorities, and international teams working around the clock to make this mission possible. This global effort, and your support has made a real difference. And we’re not done yet! Finding long-term, species-appropriate solutions for every animal is now our top priority —  while also making sure that the animals are doing well on-site in the meantime. Take a look at the video to see how it all unfolded.  

November 2025
Vet examinations in a temporary shelter

First part of the mission concludes

As of 14 November 2025, the large-scale veterinary assessment at the former Zoo Luján in Argentina has concluded. All of this was only possible thanks to outstanding teamwork, and the invaluable support and cooperation of the police, the ministry, and the dedicated staff on-site. We are incredibly proud of this achievement — but above all, we are grateful that we were able to help so many animals and relieve their pain! In less than a month, 32 lions, 30 tigers and two bears underwent thorough health checks carried out by FOUR PAWS veterinarians and wildlife experts. Although the initial assessment is done, we’ll continue share important stories from the previously on‑site team. This was just the first step of this comprehensive emergency mission, and we will also now focus on the relocation of the bears and finding long-term solutions for the big cats. 

Veterinary assessment of a lion

A monumental task made possible by our community

Thanks to the castration of all male big cats and the regrouping of some of the animals, we expect far less tension and many fewer conflicts in the future. Another major finding from the assessments was that many of the animals suffer from kidney and liver issues — common diseases in big cats in captivity without species-appropriate care. Many also had broken teeth with open root canals from biting the bars of their enclosures, meaning countless hours went into essential dental work. Unfortunately, many of the lions and tigers were declawed when they were young. This was once a common practice in facilities that used big cats for human entertainment, which can lead to long-term health issues such as arthritis, lameness, and deformities of the paws. Reaching a total of 64 veterinary checks marks the completion of a monumental task — but none of this would have been possible without our incredible community! Keep an eye on our updates in the coming months to follow the next developments in the lives of the animals.

Lioness in an enclosure

Lioness Lucy

Born in 2019, at just six years old Lucy is one of the younger animals, born just one year before the zoo closed down. Recently, Lucy received a full health assessment from our experienced vets. Cysts were found on her ovaries, which will need long-term monitoring and regular checks, but fortunately require no immediate intervention. Other than that, Lucy is in good shape! Healthy teeth, a glossy coat, and bright eyes make her one of the rare standouts of this assessment. Lucy had lived alone her whole life and urgently needed to be relocated before her assessment because her enclosure was unsafe. Thanks to the team’s crate training, she didn’t need sedation for the move. In fact, she entered the crate not only willingly but with curiosity — the training doubled as enrichment for her! After her check-up, Lucy was moved again, this time into a bigger and recently repaired enclosure, near four male lions she already knows, including lion Scar. She is a very curious, playful, and active lioness who loves to stay outside and observe, and we would want her in an environment that better supports that.

Tiger in captivity

Our highest priority patient

Meet Luna — a tigress, whose life at the former zoo has been marked by stress and anxiety. Since Luna was a cub, she has shown a deep fear of humans, and because of this, she was separated from her sisters and kept alone in an enclosure next to them. Growing up in isolation, without trust or positive interaction with her caretakers, her defensive behaviour intensified over the years. Luna became patient number 1 out of 64, because just one day before the start of our veterinary assessments, the team discovered deep open wounds on her tail, paw, and chest after a fight with the tigresses in the neighbouring enclosure through the fence. This made her our highest priority. During her veterinary assessment, our experts operated on her wounds and discovered fractured canines with open root canals. Following her surgery, she was kept in the after-care unit so our vets could closely monitor her healing process and administer the necessary medication. We truly hope that we can find a species-appropriate, long-term solution for Luna.

Close up of tiger in captivity

Meet tigress Flora

Ten-year-old Flora was born at the former Zoo Luján and grew up there alongside her brother Benjamin and a male tiger named Negus. The three formed a close bond but were later separated to prevent breeding. Since then, Flora has lived alone in a small enclosure, desperately lacking stimulation, enrichment, and space to roam. Flora was one of the first big cats we examined, as she was an urgent case. For the past five months, she had suffered from severely ingrown claws that had grown deep into her paws, making it almost impossible for her to walk or even stand. Her veterinary check also revealed dental problems, and she received antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory medication, along with vaccinations. After the procedure, Flora stayed in a provisional after-care unit so our vets could closely monitor her recovery and continue administering her medication. Despite everything she has endured — both medically and in her former living conditions — Flora has remained calm and gentle, touching the hearts of our on-site colleagues.

Lioness at Zoo Luján in Argentina

Progress in Luján: Every day counts

Tigress Luna, who underwent surgery for a severe tail injury, is slowly healing. She will remain on antibiotics and pain relief for a little longer, but she’s making steady progress. Bear Gordo bounced back beautifully from his assessment and continues to show a lot of trust around the team. Young lioness Lucy is thriving, a standout for her healthy teeth and a glossy coat that speaks volumes about her condition — one of the rare cases amongst the other animals. But not every case is straightforward. As one tiger struggled to recover from anaesthesia, he became dehydrated after lying down in the sun. Thanks to the quick thinking of our vets — and some creative rehydration methods — we can witness him back on his feet shortly after. With 32 patients treated by early November, the halfway point of the veterinary assessment has been reached.

Lion in an enclosure

Get to know lion Scar

Scar is a calm and gentle soul who has endured a great deal in his life. Born and raised in captivity alongside his brothers, Scar was declawed as a cub — a painful procedure intended to prevent scratches to people during direct interaction, but one that still affects him today. Despite everything, he remains trusting and peaceful. However, being declawed has left him vulnerable within his group, which includes two of his brothers and their father, with whom he has shared an enclosure for over ten years. Unable to defend himself, Scar is forced to remain submissive. Recently, he suffered a serious eye injury during a fight with another lion. Thankfully, our expert team was able to carry out a full veterinary assessment and perform surgery to save his eye! He also received treatment for a tail wound, had blood samples taken for further analysis, and underwent a full check of his teeth, claws, and eyes. Additionally, Scar’s micro-chip was checked and he was vaccinated — safe and protected for the future.

Brown bear at a former zoo

Two bears – one future!

We’re excited to share some wonderful news with you: Gordo and Florencia, the two bears from the former Zoo Luján, will soon begin their journey to a new life in our BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. Unfortunately, their current keeping conditions fall far short of what they need. But we’re now able to step in, put their wellbeing first, and make a change. Thanks to the cooperation of the authorities and the former zoo owner, we want to offer these beautiful bears a species-appropriate home in Bulgaria — a place where they can forage through the woods, dig cosy dens, swim in pools, and even hibernate if they choose. With your support, we can give Gordo and Florencia the chance to a new life. Help us bring them to our BEAR SANCTUARY in Bulgaria and provide them with a forever species-appropriate home.

October 2025
Bear receiving vet checks

Despite a storm, examinations continued

The next heavy task was bear Gordo. Weighing around 350 kg, it truly took all hands to bring him to the medical tent and onto the table. Apart from needing to lose weight, he is in good condition, and since he’s already neutered, no surgery was necessary. A storm and heavy rain then brought new obstacles as the medical tent was soaked, and the ground turned into mud. But thanks to dedication, coordination, and resilience, our team managed to examine another four animals: female bear Florencia, tigress Flora, and the two male tigers Keko and Dylan. The case of Flora deeply moved everyone on site. Her nails were so severely ingrown that even our experienced vets had never seen anything like it and we were so relieved we could finally free her from this intense pain.

Tiger receiving a health examination

Initial vet checks begin

When compassion meets expertise, even the toughest conditions can’t stop our team. Our dedicated crew had planned to examine the two bears and the lioness Lucy first, but they soon discovered that tigress Luna had severe open wounds on her tail, left hind paw, and chest after a fight through the fence with neighbouring tigresses so she became the very first animal on our veterinary table. Luna’s wounds were treated, and luckily the fear that her badly injured tail might have to be amputated did not come true. The tigress received antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and pain relief. Luna is now in a large crate for post-surgery care and will later be released into another adapted enclosure. 

Tiger receiving a health examination

Preparations are underway

Together with our Chief Programme Officer, Luciana D'Abramo, the on-site team's first task at the former zoo Luján was to map all enclosures and classify the animals according to their level of need. Despite having previously visited the site, it was still overwhelming to see so many animals in urgent need of care. Our team worked tirelessly to adapt the existing enclosures to improve husbandry management, provide more space, and enhance animal safety. Transport crates were also constructed, allowing the team to transfer animals to other enclosures on the premises without the need for anaesthesia. The goal is to have everything ready for the veterinary assessment, during which many of these animals will receive a proper medical examination for the very first time in their lives. Lioness Lucy will be one of the first animals to be examined, together with tigress Flora and the two bears, Gordo and Florencia.

September 2025

Legal responsibility for the animals

As a first step in delivering the MoU, we committed to easing the current animal welfare emergency at the former zoo. The assessment confirmed that there are over 60 big cats and two bears in urgent need of care, and our immediate priority was to alleviate this urgent welfare crisis and improve the animal welfare conditions. Therefore, on 1 September 2025, we agreed to take legal responsibility for the animals. We ensured that their basic needs were met by feeding the animals and keeping them safe, and since then, we have started planning for their long-term solutions. The situation is heartbreaking as these animals have been living for years without adequate care, space or enrichment. 

July 2025

The agreement has been signed

In July 2025, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Argentina, which outlines our collective goal to end the private keeping and commercial trade of big cats in the country. Our aim is to secure legislative reforms that strengthen animal welfare standards across the country and prevent future welfare emergencies. As part of this agreement, FOUR PAWS will act as a neutral consultant providing expertise to all authorities and legislators to assess the keeping conditions of big cats across the whole country and, if needed, work with the government to relocate them to species-appropriate environments. This agreement sets a precedent for the government to take action and ensure the private keeping of big cats is banned across Argentina.

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