The former Luján Zoo, closed since September 2020, is once again in the public spotlight. Around 60 big cats —including lions and tigers— still live on the premises and are under care while physical and health evaluations are conducted, coordinated by the National Environmental Control Brigade and the Paus Foundation.
The operation aims to determine the general condition of the animals left after the park’s closure, following years of complaints and demands regarding their maintenance conditions. Since then, the site has survived thanks to donations and the efforts of a small group of workers and veterinarians who attend to the animals daily.
Currently, about twenty people work on the premises, where the big cats are fed with meat from livestock that died in the field. Professionals also collaborate by providing medications and health care. Without income from ticket sales or stable financial support, the maintenance of the place depends on solidarity and the support of various organizations.
In recent years, attempts to relocate the animals to international sanctuaries in Mexico, the United States, and India have been unsuccessful. However, a new opportunity could come from an NGO based in Austria, which is considering relocating several animals to specialized reserves, offering a viable alternative for their future well-being.
The closure of Luján Zoo: a change of era
The closure of Luján Zoo in 2020 marked a turning point in how Argentina approaches the care and exhibition of wildlife. The premises were closed by order of the Ministry of Environment due to non-compliance with animal welfare standards and failure to adapt to current regulations.
Until then, the establishment allowed direct contact between visitors and animals, a practice that drew strong criticism from conservation organizations and wildlife experts. The advancement of new environmental policies and animal protection ended this model, ushering in a transition phase where the relocation and ethical management of captive species are prioritized.
Since the closure, the site remains closed to the public and under official supervision. Current efforts focus on ensuring the health of the big cats and managing their eventual transfer to sanctuaries where they can live in more natural and controlled conditions.
The case of the former Luján Zoo has thus become a symbol of the cultural shift towards more respectful conservation models, where animal welfare is placed above human entertainment.
Zoos in Argentina: between transformation and challenge
The closure of Luján park was not an isolated event. In recent years, various Argentine zoos have begun a process of conversion into ecoparks, rescue centers, or educational reserves, in line with new environmental demands. The most well-known case is the former Buenos Aires Zoo, now the Interactive Ecopark, which prioritizes the rehabilitation and transfer of animals to suitable habitats.
However, the transformation is not uniform. Many zoos in the country face economic, legal, and logistical difficulties in converting. The high maintenance costs, lack of suitable spaces, and scarcity of available sanctuaries mean that hundreds of animals remain in prolonged transitional conditions.
The Ministry of Environment and various NGOs are working together to strengthen rescue and transfer policies, although they acknowledge that the process requires time, resources, and a change in social paradigm. The trend points towards a national network of conservation and environmental education centers, where animals serve as ambassadors of the ecosystem rather than objects of display.
The former Luján Zoo, with its 60 big cats awaiting their fate, symbolizes the tension between the past and the future. Its transformation —still underway— reflects the challenge of a country seeking to reconcile its history with a more ethical and sustainable perspective on wildlife.
