Powerful video of emergency mission in Argentina: a dedicated team of Four Paws International provides medical care for 62 big cats and 2 bears

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Premiered on Dec 8, 2025 ARGENTINA

⚙️Turn on: SUBTITLES [CC]! In this powerful wrap-up video, we take you behind the scenes of our emergency relief mission in Argentina. Together with a dedicated team of FOUR PAWS and a group of veterinarians and specialists, we saved lives, provided medical care, and brought hope to all 64 animals in desperate need. 🐾🤝 🎥 In this video you'll see:

• The first moments of arrival at the former Zoo Luján
• The teamwork between veterinarians, doctors and specialists in challenging circumstances such as severe weather and in the flooded tent
• The care and treatments that instantly changed animals' lives
• The power of cooperation and solidarity in times of crisis
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  The 2 brothers having a medical check up together. They ilved in one small cage and vets couldn't sedate one only and not the other
  

🐯 This video is a summary of days of dedication, compassion and perseverance. It shows how international cooperation and expertise come together to provide emergency relief, and how every action, big or small, makes a difference. 💙 👉 Join us and experience the mission through the eyes of our team. Together we make emergency aid for animals possible.

• Largest big cat veterinary assessment in Latin America completed in less than a month.
• Most animals examined had health issues; emergency surgeries and treatments performed.
• Next steps: Relocation of the bears and finding long-term solutions for the big cats. 

Vienna/Buenos Aires: Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS successfully completed a large-scale veterinary assessment at the former Zoo Luján in Argentina on 14 November, marking the end of the first step in a comprehensive emergency mission. In less than a month, 32 lions, 30 tigers and two bears underwent thorough health checks carried out by FOUR PAWS veterinarians and wildlife experts.

Working from a temporary field unit under challenging conditions, the team addressed urgent health issues, including infections of tails and eyes, ingrown nails, open wounds, kidney disease and dental problems. Several animals had previously been declawed and required treatment for deformed paws. In some cases, the FOUR PAWS veterinarians discovered spinal deformities that had led to neurological problems. Two lions even required partial tail amputations due to severe infections.

“We found health issues in most of the animals we examined, many of which can be directly linked to inadequate keeping conditions and poor nutrition. One tigress suffered from a particularly painful condition: a claw that had repeatedly grown inward. We removed splintered pieces from her infected paw and surgically corrected the claw bed to allow proper regrowth. Witnessing the change in her behaviour after relieving that pain is exactly why we do what we do,” says veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who leads the FOUR PAWS emergency mission at the former Zoo Luján.

Because of the crowded enclosures, the team had to plan operations meticulously and, on multiple occasions, worked in two teams to treat two sedated animals simultaneously. Beyond medical care, FOUR PAWS also improved the animals’ keeping conditions by repairing enclosures, separating and regrouping animals, and introducing species-appropriate diets.

Where will all the big cats go to? I have no idee as yet, but I will keep you up to date,