[REVISION HISTORY]
Luján Zoo big cat relocation
Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
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2026-08-19 09:55 UTC → 2026-08-21 14:46 UTC ·
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The animal welfare organization Four Paws has initiated an international operation to relocate 30 lions and tigers from the former Luján Zoo in Argentina to wildlife sanctuaries in the United States and South Africa. The Luján Zoo was closed in 2020 following reports of irregularities and poor welfare conditions. Many animals had spent years in cramped concrete enclosures, arriving at the relocation site with various health issues, including malnutrition, obesity, dental disease, and kidney problems. The relocation involves splitting the animals between two primary destinations: The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, USA, and the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. To maintain stability, specialists are moving family groups and lifelong companions together. The process requires intensive veterinary preparation, with some animals using specialized training to enter crates while others require sedation for transport. As of August 2026, the relocation of the thirty big cats has been completed. The animals were divided into two groups of 15, with one group arriving at the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa and the second group arriving at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. In Colorado, the felids have been placed in enclosures ranging from 1,450 to 10,000 hectares. This move marks the start of a gradual rehabilitation process intended to help the animals adapt to their new environments, recover natural behaviors, and eventually interact with other big cats in large, open-air habitats.
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