International Rescue Effort Spanning Three Continents
30 lions and tigers travel from Argentina to South Africa and the United States
- FOUR PAWS has started relocating 30 lions and tigers from the former Zoo Luján in Argentina.
- 15 big cats are being transferred to FOUR PAWS’ LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa, while 15 others will find a new home at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, USA.
- The lions and tigers will receive lifelong, species-appropriate care tailored to their individual behavioural and medical needs.
Bethlehem, 18 August 2026 – Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has reached a major milestone in its emergency mission at the former Zoo Luján in Argentina. Following months of preparation, 30 big cats began their journey to new homes on 17 August. Nine tigers and six lions are being relocated to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa, operated by FOUR PAWS. In addition, FOUR PAWS has partnered with The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, USA, to provide eight tigers and seven lions with species-appropriate care. These relocations build on a comprehensive veterinary assessment of more than 60 big cats and two bears at the former zoo, carried out by FOUR PAWS in November 2025, which laid the foundation for the rescue mission.
Over the course of four days, the FOUR PAWS team carefully prepared and loaded the big cats for transport. While some animals voluntarily entered their transport crates following specialised training, others were safely sedated and transferred into their crates under veterinary supervision. After receiving final veterinary clearance, the animals departed Buenos Aires on passenger and cargo flights to their new homes.
The relocated animals include family groups and lifelong companions, who will remain together in their new sanctuary homes. There, they will receive tailored care and treatment for a range of health conditions, including dental disease, kidney problems, complications associated with declawing, and poorly healed injuries. Prior to their rescue, all had been living in small concrete enclosures at the former Zoo Luján, which was closed by Argentine authorities in 2020.
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
FOUR PAWS in South Africa on Social Media
Stay up to date on this topic and on all FOUR PAWS activities on our social media channels:
or subscribe to FOUR PAWS in South Africa newsletter.
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects across the globe, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za