Rescue Tigress Flora

In August 2025, we accepted an invitation from the government of Argentina and the management of the former Zoo Luján, in the province of Buenos Aires, to conduct an initial assessment of the animals living there. The zoo was closed in 2020 due to severe animal welfare concerns, and our first evaluation in 2025 raised serious issues over the safety, health, and well-being of the animals still housed there.

In September, FOUR PAWS agreed to take  responsibility for the animals at the former zoo and immediately started improving husbandry conditions on-site and preparing for much-needed further steps, marking the beginning of our #EmergencyMissionArgentina.  In mid-November, we successfully completed a large-scale and complex veterinary assessment, treating over 60 animals and looking into long-term, species-appropriate solutions for them.

Among the animals treated is ten-year-old tigress Flora, who was born at the former zoo. During her first year, she grew up alongside her brother Benjamin and a male tiger named Negus. The three formed a close bond but were later separated to prevent breeding. Since then, Flora has lived alone in a small, two by two metres enclosure, stimulation, enrichment, and space to roam. 

Thankfully, we are now able to provide Flora with a new chance at life in our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.

Flora was one of the very first of the over sixty big cats we examined, as our initial assessment raised serious concerns over her health. She had been suffering from severely ingrown claws that had grown deep into her paws, making it almost impossible for her to walk or even stand. She was in constant, excruciating pain. 

Her veterinary check also revealed dental problems, and her upper left canine had to be removed. Flora will need additional follow-up dental care in the future. She received urgent surgery to remove the ingrown claws and treatment for the deep open wounds, as well as antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory medication, along with vaccinations. 

After the procedure, Flora stayed in a provisional after-care unit so our vets could closely monitor her recovery and continue administering her medication. Despite everything she has endured – both medically and due to her former living conditions – Flora has remained calm and gentle.

Although she has now moved from the provisional after-care unit to a bigger enclosure, she is still one of our high priority cases due to her significant physical underdevelopment and the clear signs of long-term inadequate care. In her new home, FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary, she will receive mandatory follow-up health checks, dental care, long-term monitoring and a species-appropriate environment for big cats that are in need of rehabilitation. For the first time in her life, she will have the space to roam and climb! Under the guidance and care of the specialised team at FELIDA she will have the opportunity to finally learn what it means to be a tiger.  

Tigress Flora arrived safe and sound at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where part of the FELIDA team was waiting to welcome her. Flora was calm in her crate, just tired from the long flight. With the big cat ambulance ready, Flora and the team travelled on to her final destination — her new forever home at FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary.

Flora was gently released into her adaptation enclosure. Although tired from the journey, she was wonderfully curious — a character trait she had already shown in Argentina. Within moments, she began exploring her surroundings. 

It was pure joy to watch this small tigress discover both her indoor and outdoor areas, exploring every element of her new home. She climbed onto her platform, stretched her claws against a tree, accepted food from her caregivers, and even made herself comfortable in her bed of straw. 

Flora’s journey does not end here — her path to recovery has only just begun. Please continue your wonderful support to ensure her lifelong care.

We are heartbroken to announce that tigress Flora has passed away. 

After her relocation from the former Zoo Luján to FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands in February, Flora adjusted well. She loved her first-ever bed of straw and enjoyed lingering in her hammock in the sun. 

However, the team at FELIDA observed increasing signs of pain and discomfort. A thorough medical examination at a nearby specialist clinic revealed that she was suffering from critical abdominal inflammation. The veterinary team prepared for surgery right away and did everything possible to save her, but sadly, Flora passed away unexpectedly beforehand. The preliminary results of her post-mortem examination have confirmed severe peritonitis.   

Animals raised in inadequate conditions often suffer lasting health damage that only becomes apparent during thorough examinations and is not immediately visible from the outside. When we met Flora in Argentina, she was immediately classified as an urgent case. 

She had open wounds and ingrown claws that caused her severe pain, making it impossible for her to stand or walk properly. The veterinary assessment also revealed poor dental health, and it was clear that the smallest tiger at the former zoo would require specialist medical care, a thorough examination, and detailed diagnostics. FELIDA was the best fit, providing an expert team on-site to tailor her care. 

It devastates us that Flora did not have the chance to recover from her years of neglect and thrive in our care, as so many of our rescued animals do. From the beginning, this sensitive tigress held a special place in our hearts. Watching her overcome her fears so many times, letting her curiosity win, and explore her surroundings was incredibly heartwarming. 

This loss is deeply painful, and she will forever remain in our hearts!