Two bears and a tiger were rescued from the former Zoo Luján in Argentina and brought to Europe. The animal welfare group Four Paws led the rescue as part of a larger operation.
The animals were flown to Europe on Monday and arrived one day later at their new sanctuaries.
The two bears went to the Belitsa bear sanctuary in Bulgaria, while the female tiger was moved to the Felida Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.
Veterinary teams made these animals a top priority because they urgently needed care and better living conditions. In late 2025, wildlife experts carried out a major veterinary operation at the zoo and examined dozens of animals.
Rescuers said Florencia, a 17-year-old bear, lived in a small concrete enclosure. Gordo, who is 16, was severely overweight and kept in a cramped cage. Flora, a 10-year-old tigress, had painful ingrown claws and a broken tooth.
“Flora’s ingrown claws caused her massive pain for months and made it hard for her to stand or walk. After we performed emergency surgery, she relaxed noticeably and enjoyed being in her outdoor space,” veterinarian Amir Khalil said.
“Gordo’s size required us to adapt his small cage to make more room for him. We crate-trained all three animals, so they entered their transport crates calmly and without anesthesia. We can’t wait to see all three rediscover joy and playfulness in their new homes,” he added.
The former zoo in Argentina has been closed since 2020, but it still has more than 60 big cats. Four Paws is now working with Argentine authorities to find new homes for these animals.
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