国际动物福利组织Four Paws正在执行一项规模宏大的救援行动，将阿根廷卢汉动物园的30只狮虎转移至南非和美国的野生动物保护区[1]。这次转移被认为是世界上规模最大的圈养大型猫科动物转移之一[1]。其中9只老虎和6只狮子将被送往南非的Lionsrock保护区，其余8只老虎和7只狮子将前往科罗拉多州的野生动物保护区[1]。
卢汉动物园因存在严重的安全和动物福利问题，已于2020年关闭[1]。动物园关闭时约有200只大型猫科动物，但四年后仅剩62只[1]。被救援的狮虎中许多患有各类疾病，包括肥胖、肌肉萎缩、营养不良、牙病、肾病以及爪子被截肢等问题[1]。Four Paws团队对许多狮虎进行了自愿进入运输箱的训练，但部分动物仍需要镇静处理才能完成转移[1]。南非的Lionsrock保护区占地60公顷，已有能力容纳超过80只大型猫科动物[1]。
Thirty lions and tigers have started their transfer from the Lujan Zoo in Argentina to wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa and the United States, marking one of the largest captive big cat relocations in the world [1]. The rescue operation is being coordinated by Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, following the zoo's closure in 2020 due to safety and animal welfare concerns [1].
Nine tigers and six lions are being transported to Lionsrock, a 60-hectare sanctuary in South Africa that houses more than 80 large felines [1]. The remaining eight tigers and seven lions will be relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado [1]. Many of the animals required training to voluntarily enter transport crates, while others needed sedation for the transfer [1].
The condition of the rescued animals reflects the poor conditions at the facility. When the zoo closed, approximately 200 large cats were present, but only 62 remained four years later [1]. Among those being relocated, several suffer from obesity, muscle atrophy, malnutrition, dental disease, kidney problems, and amputated claws [1].