AA Cargo roars into action on tiger mission
01 / 11 / 2024
Source: American Airlines Cargo
American Airlines Cargo has helped transport a Bengal tiger to a sanctuary in the US following changes to her home in Argentina.
The move is a result of the former Mendoza Zoo’s transition into an Eco Park, which has involved gradually relocating its animal residents to sanctuaries.
The 16-year-old tiger, named Lucy, was first transported 750 miles from Mendoza to Ezeiza Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires by truck.
She was then flown from EZE onboard a Boeing 787-8 for 11 hours to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Sanctuary staff, including a veterinarian, met her there ready for the final 1,200-mile onward drive to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota.
“The transportation process was carefully coordinated with Intermodal, the forwarder designated by the Mendoza Ministry of Energy and Environment, and American Airlines Cargo,” the airline said. “The carrier ensured seamless communication between the teams at EZE and at the receiving station at JFK Airport (JFK) in New York, ensuring a safe trip for Lucy.”
Lucy was the last tiger at the Mendoza Eco Park, having arrived there in 2011 as part of an animal exchange with another zoo in Buenos Aires.
The Wildcat Sanctuary had previously accepted two lions from Mendoza in 2018. At that time, the import regulations for lions were more lenient than those for tigers, who are considered an endangered species.
The journey to arrange the transport involved three years of securing permits, navigating changing jurisdictions, and securing funding. Tragically, during this time, another tiger at Mendoza, Violeta, passed away, making staff even more determined to get Lucy to Minnesota.
In 2019, Sandra, a 33-year-old orangutan, was moved to a sanctuary in Florida after being granted human rights necessary to make the journey. With support from the courts in Argentina, American facilitated her safe passage to the US, where she found a new home.
Indy Bolina, head of global sales for American Airlines Cargo, added: “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 staff from the sanctuary team to make sure everything ran like clockwork and we look forward to following Lucy’s story.”
American Airlines Cargo safely transports orangutan from Argentina to US
