The global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS has commenced the first phase of the emergency operation at the former Luján Zoo in Argentina. Veterinarians and wildlife experts are now on site and providing much-needed medical assistance to over 60 big cats and two bears. The month-long veterinary examination—the largest ever conducted in such a short time for big cats in a zoo in Latin America—poses a significant logistical challenge. Many enclosures in the former zoo are overcrowded; often, lions and tigers are housed together in tiny cages. The bears have also been living in small cages for years.
All lions, tigers, and bears are currently undergoing veterinary examinations. The former Luján Zoo was closed in 2020 due to serious animal welfare concerns. In August 2025, FOUR PAWS, together with the relevant Argentine authority, conducted a preliminary visual assessment of the animals at the former Luján Zoo. Subsequently, FOUR PAWS agreed to take responsibility for the care of the big cats and bears on site.
“We have serious concerns regarding the safety, health, and welfare of the animals. Some of them urgently need help. To truly assess the condition of the animals, we need to examine the health of each individual animal. This requires sedating all lions, tigers, and bears and examining them at a temporarily erected veterinary field station on-site. There, two vet teams conduct the necessary examinations and perform emergency surgeries if needed. However, our work here does not end with the veterinary examination. We are already planning the next steps to give the animals a better future,” says veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who leads the FOUR PAWS emergency operation in Argentina.
The private keeping and commercial trade of big cats should be banned. The operation at the former Luján Zoo is the first step in implementing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed upon by FOUR PAWS and the Argentine government in July 2025. The MoU includes the shared goal of ending the private keeping and commercial trade of big cats in the country. It was signed by Daniel Scioli, the Minister for Tourism, Environment, and Sport, and Luciana D'Abramo, Chief Programme Officer of FOUR PAWS.
“The Memorandum of Understanding allows FOUR PAWS to support the authorities and legislators in Argentina with expertise and to assess the conditions of big cats in the country impartially. If needed, we will collaborate with the government to relocate the animals to appropriate environments. Our goal is to achieve a legislative reform that improves animal welfare standards for big cats nationwide and prevents future emergency operations. Argentina now has the opportunity to become a regional leader in big cat protection,” says Luciana D’Abramo, Chief Programme Officer of FOUR PAWS.
Media contact:
Oliver Loga
Press Manager Switzerland
FOUR PAWS – Animal Welfare Foundation
Altstetterstrasse 124
8048 Zurich
Phone: +41 43 311 80 90
presse@vier-pfoten.ch
www.vier-pfoten.ch