From Luján to the Carpathians: The historic transfer marking the end of captivity for great predators

LUJÁN / BULGARIA – In one of the most complex wildlife rescue missions of the decade, brown bears Gordo and Florencia, and the tigress Flora, have completed their journey toward freedom. After years of living in precarious conditions at the closed Luján Zoo, the animals were transferred under strict international animal welfare protocols to high-complexity sanctuaries in Europe.

The operation, which involved specially equipped cargo planes and a team of veterinarians from the global organization Four Paws, represents a paradigm shift in wildlife management in Argentina. The bears are already at the Belitsa sanctuary in Bulgaria, a 12-hectare natural forest area where they will be able to hibernate for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, Flora the tigress was received at the FELIDA center in the Netherlands, which specializes in felines that have suffered physical and psychological trauma in captivity.

This milestone is more than just an individual rescue; it is a powerful message about the need to convert old zoos into rescue and rehabilitation centers. The logistics of this transfer prove that, with political will and international cooperation, it is possible to repair the damage caused by wildlife trafficking and the commercial exhibition of wild animals.