FOUR PAWS launches emergency mission for big cats at former zoo Luján
In a significant effort to address dire animal welfare concerns, the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has embarked on an emergency mission at the now-defunct Zoo Luján in Argentina. This facility, which was shuttered in 2020 due to grave issues regarding animal care, is currently home to over 60 big cats and two bears, all in urgent need of veterinary attention and proper living conditions.
The month-long veterinary assessment, which kicked off this month, is on track to become the largest of its kind for big cats in Latin America, taking place in a remarkably brief window of time. The challenges are immense; many enclosures at Zoo Luján are small and overcrowded, housing large groups of big cats, including lions and tigers, in inadequate spaces. The bears are not faring much better, as they too are kept in confined and unsuitable conditions.
“We have serious concerns over the animals’ safety, health, and well-being. Some require critical attention. It is vital that we check the health status of each animal to ensure their immediate needs are addressed,” explains Dr Amir Khalil, a leading veterinarian with FOUR PAWS. He further emphasises the logistical hurdles ahead: every lion, tiger, and bear will need to be sedated and transported to a temporary veterinary field unit established on-site, where two dedicated veterinary teams will perform thorough examinations and take action for any emergency surgeries deemed necessary.
This mission forms part of a broader collaboration between FOUR PAWS and the Argentine government. Following an initial visual assessment conducted in August 2025, where the urgency of the situation was laid bare, an agreement known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalised in July 2025. Signed by Daniel Scioli, Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Sports, and Luciana D’Abramo, Chief Programmes Officer of FOUR PAWS, this MoU aims to eliminate the private keeping and commercial trade of big cats, paving the way for improved animal welfare standards across Argentina.
“The MoU enables FOUR PAWS to act as a neutral consultant providing expertise to all authorities and legislators to assess the keeping conditions of big cats in Argentina,” states D’Abramo. “Where needed, we will work with the government to relocate animals to species-appropriate environments. Our aim is to secure legislative reforms that strengthen animal welfare standards for big cats across the country and prevent future welfare emergencies. Argentina now has the opportunity to become a regional champion for the protection of big cats.”
This crucial initiative marks the first step in alleviating the plight of these magnificent creatures, many of whom have been subject to unsuitable living conditions and neglect for far too long. As FOUR PAWS progresses through its mission, the hope remains that substantial reforms will follow, providing big cats and other animals throughout Argentina with a safer, more humane future.