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American Airlines rescues last tiger in Mendoza

[ October 31, 2024   //   ]

American Airlines Cargo has relocated 16-year-old Bengal tiger Lucy from an Eco Park in Mendoza, Argentina to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota. The former Mendoza Zoo is being turned into an Eco Park and its animal residents are being moved to sanctuaries where they can begin new lives with their peers.

Lucy’s journey began with a 750-mile truck ride covering from Mendoza to Ezeiza Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires for the B787-8 flight to New York JFK. There followed a final 1,200-mile onward drive to Minnesota.

Everything was coordinated with Intermodal, the forwarder designated by the Mendoza Ministry of Energy and Environment, and American Airlines Cargo.

The Wildcat Sanctuary provides a natural habitat for wild cats in need of a home and has already accepted two lions from Mendoza in 2018.

The process of arranging Lucy’s transport involved three years of securing permits, navigating ever-tightening jurisdictions, and securing funding. Tragically, during this time, her companion tiger Violeta passed away, making staff even more determined to get Lucy to Minnesota.

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