American Airlines Cargo recently undertook a crucial mission to relocate Lucy, a 16-year-old Bengal tiger, from an Eco Park in Mendoza, Argentina, to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota.
This relocation was part of a larger effort to rehome the former residents of Mendoza Zoo, now an Eco Park, to more suitable environments as the zoo transitions toward an animal-centric conservation model.
Lucy’s journey, facilitated by American Airlines Cargo in coordination with Intermodal and the Mendoza Ministry of Energy and Environment, began with a 750-mile drive from Mendoza to Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport. From there, she boarded an American Airlines B787-8 for an 11-hour flight to New York’s JFK Airport. The seamless coordination between American Airlines Cargo’s teams in Buenos Aires and New York ensured Lucy’s safe arrival.
Upon reaching JFK, Lucy was met by The Wildcat Sanctuary team, who drove her the final 1,200 miles to her new home in Minnesota. This marks the second rescue effort by American Airlines Cargo from Mendoza; in 2019, the airline also facilitated the transport of Sandra, an orangutan, to a sanctuary in Florida.
The journey underscores American Airlines Cargo‘s commitment to supporting animal welfare through careful logistics and cross-border collaboration, ensuring that animals like Lucy can find new homes that prioritise their well-being and natural behaviour.
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