In a remarkable effort to support wildlife conservation, American Airlines Cargo has successfully relocated Lucy, a 16-year-old Bengal tiger, from an Eco Park in Mendoza, Argentina, to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota, USA. This move comes as part of the former Mendoza Zoo’s transformation into an Eco Park, which aims to provide a more suitable environment for its animal residents by facilitating their transfer to dedicated sanctuaries.
Lucy’s journey commenced with a 750-mile truck ride from Mendoza to Ezeiza Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires. The intricate logistics of her transportation were managed in collaboration with Intermodal, the forwarder appointed by the Mendoza Ministry of Energy and Environment, and American Airlines Cargo. The airline ensured smooth communication between the teams at EZE and the receiving station at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York, prioritizing Lucy’s safety throughout the journey.
Arriving at the Mendoza Eco Park in 2011 through an animal exchange with a Buenos Aires zoo, Lucy became the last tiger in the park. The Wildcat Sanctuary, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering a natural habitat for wild cats, had previously welcomed two lions from Mendoza in 2018. Due to stricter regulations regarding the relocation of tigers, transferring Lucy took significantly longer, especially after her companion, Violeta, tragically passed away, further motivating the sanctuary staff to expedite the process.
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, Lucy was placed aboard an American Airlines B787-8 for an 11-hour flight to JFK. There, sanctuary staff, including a veterinarian, were on hand to ensure her well-being during the final leg of her journey, a 1,200-mile drive to The Wildcat Sanctuary.
This operation marks the second successful rescue mission by American Airlines Cargo from Mendoza, following the relocation of Sandra, a 33-year-old orangutan, to a sanctuary in Florida in 2019 after being granted necessary human rights for her transport.
Indy Bolina, Head of Global Sales for American Airlines Cargo, expressed pride in the airline’s role, stating, “It was an honour for American to provide our services to aid in Sandra’s relocation back in 2019, and we are just as proud to have been able to play our part in the re-homing of Lucy to a more suitable environment. Our teams worked in tandem with the sanctuary staff to ensure everything ran like clockwork, and we look forward to following Lucy’s story.”
With this successful relocation, Lucy can now thrive in an environment that upholds her well-being and allows her to live among her peers.
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