The emotional journey of Lucy, the last Bengal tigress from Ecoparque de Mendoza, towards her new home in a sanctuary in the United States, was documented in an 11-minute mini documentary, now available on YouTube. Under the direction of Geraldine Vidal, the audiovisual invites the audience to learn every detail of this delicate animal transfer operation.
The documentary, premiered on March 21st, shows the complete process: from the days before Lucy’s departure, through her land transfer to Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires, to her arrival in New York and the final journey to her definitive destination in the state of Minnesota.
“You will be able to see all the details of this very special journey. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed seeing Lucy happy in her new home,” said Vidal, an image and sound designer graduate from the University of Buenos Aires and a veterinary assistant, who led the audiovisual project.
The documentary shows the transfer of the tigress Lucy to the sanctuary. Photo: Mendoza Government.
A permanent home for Lucy
Lucy was born in the Batán zoo, in Buenos Aires, and was transferred to Mendoza in 2011. There she lived for over a decade, until the process began for her definitive transfer to an American sanctuary, a space of over 160,000 square meters, specially adapted for rescued big felines.
In her new home, the tigress has freedom of movement, permanent veterinary care, and, for the first time, the opportunity to interact with other specimens of her species.
The Biodiversity Director of the Ministry of Energy and Environment of Mendoza, Ignacio Haudet, highlighted the joint work behind the project: “It was a great effort and sustained work, done with much love and dedication by the staff of the area and the Ecoparque”.
This transfer marks the end of an era in the history of the former zoo of Mendoza, consolidating its transformation into a space for animal conservation and protection, aligned with policies of welfare and respect for biodiversity.
The tigress Lucy was the only specimen left in the Ecoparque de Mendoza. Photo: Mendoza Government.
A new opportunity for the tigress
From now on, the tigress Lucy will live in The WildCat Sanctuary, the same place where, in 2018, the lions Chupino and Salteña from the former zoo of Mendoza were transferred to enjoy a better quality of life.
This organization is known for being highly specialized and having extensive experience in feline care, which has contributed to its international recognition for its standards of excellence. It is also accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the American Sanctuary Association, and the Big Cat Alliance.
The sanctuary where Lucy resides does not allow public entry for recreational purposes, nor does it breed or commercialize any type of animal, as its purpose is to guarantee their well-being.
Source: Diario UNO.
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