With the help of American Airlines Cargo, Lucy, a 16-year-old Bengal tiger, was transported from an eco-friendly park in Mendoza, Argentina, to a Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota, USA. The move is a result of the former Mendoza Zoo’s transition to an eco-park, which involved gradually moving its animals to sanctuaries where they can start new lives with their peers.
Lucy’s journey began with a truck ride covering approximately 750 miles from Mendoza to Ezeiza Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires. The transportation was carefully coordinated with Intermodal, Mendoza’s DOE-designated freight forwarder, and American Airlines Cargo. The carrier ensured seamless communication between the teams at EZE and at the receiving station at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York, ensuring a safe journey for Lucy.
Lucy was the last tiger at Mendoza Eco Park, arriving there in 2011 as part of an animal exchange with another zoo in Buenos Aires. The Wildcat Sanctuary — a certified, non-profit, privately funded sanctuary that provides a natural habitat for wild cats in need of a home — had previously accepted two lions from Mendoza in 2018. At the time, lion import regulations were more lenient than those for tigers. It is considered an endangered species. With the zoo’s closure and its new focus on animal rights, there was hope that Lucy and her companion Violetta could be placed in a suitable facility more quickly.
However, years later, The Wildcat Sanctuary learned that Lucy and Violetta were still in the eco-park. Arranging their relocation took three years of obtaining permits, navigating changing jurisdictions, and securing financing. Tragically, during this time, Violeta passed away, making the staff even more determined to get Lucy to Minnesota.
Upon arriving at EZE, Lucy was transferred aboard an American Airlines B787-8 for the 11-hour flight to JFK. Shelter staff, including a veterinarian, met her there in preparation for the final 1,200 miles to The Wildcat Sanctuary.
Lucy’s flight marks the second animal American Airlines Cargo has helped rescue from Mendoza. In 2019, Sandra, a 33-year-old orangutan, was transferred to a sanctuary in Florida after being granted the necessary human rights to make the journey. With the support of the courts in Argentina, América facilitated her safe passage to the United States, where she found a new home.
“It was an honor for American to offer our services to help move Sandra back in 2019, and we are absolutely proud to be able to play our part in reassigning Lucy to a more suitable environment. It worked,” said Endy Polina, president of global sales for American Airlines Cargo. “Our teams work alongside the shelter team staff to make sure everything runs like clockwork and we look forward to continuing Lucy’s story.”
