Rescued Big Cats Await New Homes After Dire Conditions at Shuttered Zoo

On October 31, 2025, a team of veterinarians and experts from an international animal welfare organization are working to assess and treat dozens of big cats and bears that were left behind at a now-closed zoo on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 62 lions, tigers, and two brown bears had been living in substandard, claustrophobic conditions for years after the Lujan Zoo was shut down by authorities in 2020 due to safety concerns. For the past five years, a few loyal zookeepers had been the only ones caring for the stranded animals, but many did not survive the neglect.

When the animal welfare group first visited the zoo earlier this year, they found the surviving cats in dire shape. Most had not been vaccinated, sterilized, or even microchipped, and were suffering from a range of health issues - from infected teeth and overgrown claws to wounds from fighting and organ failure from the stress of their cramped enclosures.

This rescue mission is the largest and most challenging yet for the organization, which has previously evacuated animals from war zones in Syria, Iraq, and Gaza. The team is now working to stabilize the cats' conditions before arranging their transfer to more spacious wildlife sanctuaries around the world.

Some former Lujan Zoo workers expressed nostalgia for the old days when visitors could interact with the big cats, but acknowledged that times and laws have changed. Now, the priority is ensuring the animals' wellbeing and finding them permanent, humane homes.