Historic Veterinary Examination Completed in Argentina
19.11.2025 | from FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare
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19.11.2025, The global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has completed a large-scale veterinary examination at the former Luján Zoo in Argentina. In less than a month, 32 lions, 30 tigers, and two bears received medical care. It is the largest examination of its kind ever conducted in Latin America in such a short time frame. The results are alarming: the majority of the animals suffer from severe health issues due to poor living conditions and inadequate nutrition.
The veterinary team from FOUR PAWS had barely any time to breathe in Argentina over the past few weeks. They performed emergency surgeries, treated infections, corrected ingrown claws, and attended to dental and kidney diseases. Two lions even had to undergo partial tail amputations due to severe infections.
"We identified significant health problems in almost all animals. The treatment of a tigress, whose painfully ingrown claw we were able to surgically correct, was particularly moving. The immediate change in behaviour after pain relief shows why our work is so important," explains Dr. Amir Khalil, head of the emergency mission at FOUR PAWS.
In addition to medical care, the team also improved housing conditions on the ground: enclosures were repaired, animals were regrouped, and they were provided with proper dietary plans.
Next Steps Initiated Luciana D’Abramo, Chief Programme Officer at FOUR PAWS, emphasises: "Thanks to the excellent cooperation with the Argentine authorities, we can now initiate the next steps. The two bears, Gordo and Florencia, will be relocated to our BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa in Bulgaria, where they will finally receive the care and space needed for their recovery. We are working on long-term solutions for the big cats — the current conditions are utterly unsuitable."
The mission is part of a memorandum of understanding between FOUR PAWS and the Argentine government. The goal is to end the private ownership and commercial trade of big cats in the country and provide the animals with a future in appropriately maintained facilities.
Media Contact:
Oliver Loga
Press Manager Switzerland
FOUR PAWS – Foundation for Animal Welfare
Altstetterstrasse 124
8048 Zurich
Tel. +41 43 311 80 90
presse@vier-pfoten.ch
www.vier-pfoten.ch
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FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, confronting issues, rescuing animals in need, and protecting them. Founded in 1988 by Heli Dungler and friends in Vienna, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy, and understanding. Its sustainable campaigns and projects focus on stray dogs and cats, as well as companion, farm, and wild animals — such as bears, big cats, and orangutans — from inappropriate conditions and disaster or conflict zones.
With offices in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the USA, and Vietnam, and rescue centres for animals in distress in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS ensures swift assistance and long-term solutions. In Switzerland, the animal welfare foundation is a partner of Arosa Bear Sanctuary, the first bear sanctuary providing a species-appropriate home for rescued bears from poor housing conditions.
Note: The "About Us" text is taken from public sources or from the company profile on HELP.ch.
Source: FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare, Press release
Original article published on: Historische tierärztliche Untersuchung in Argentinien abgeschlossen