LATAM Cargo successfully operated a dedicated charter flight transporting 15 big cats (8 tigers and 7 lions) from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Denver, United States, with a technical stop in Santiago, Chile. The animals' final destination is The Wild Animal Sanctuary, located in Keenesburg, Colorado.
This operation is part of a global effort that animal welfare organization Four Paws International, which led the rescue effort, has described as one of the world's largest relocations of captive big cats, moving a total of 30 animals simultaneously from South America to North America and Africa.
LATAM Cargo was selected to operate the North American leg of this mission. Coordination was carried out in collaboration with freight broker DSV, Four Paws International, and the origin agent, Intermodal Logistics Services S.A., partners with whom LATAM Cargo has previously carried out highly complex and sensitive transport operations.
Given the scale of the challenge—involving 5.4 metric tons of cargo (2.5 tons corresponding to the animals and 2.9 tons to the specialized transport crates)—the operation required extensive planning that began weeks before takeoff. To support the operation, LATAM Cargo mobilized a multidisciplinary team of more than 15 professionals across Commercial, Products, Operational Standards & Procedures, Legal, Quality, Operations, Ramp, and Warehouse, among other areas. The teams worked in close coordination to ensure technical alignment, route feasibility, and regulatory compliance of the transport crates.
From a technical and operational standpoint, the shipment strictly adhered to the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR). This ensured controlled conditions for pressurization, temperature, and continuous ventilation inside the Boeing 767 freighter hold. In addition, as an integral part of the planning process focused on animal welfare, the airline rigorously validated CITES permits, along with all health, veterinary, and regulatory requirements applicable at origin, in transit, and at destination.
"Operationally, executing a charter for 15 big cats means coordinating a highly complex operation where there is no margin for deviation. It requires aligning multiple teams in strict compliance with IATA LAR, ensuring a controlled environment inside the Boeing 767 cargo hold, and ensuring efficient ground transfers. It is a high-precision logistics operation that demonstrates our technical capabilities and expertise in transporting live animals safely," stated Daniel Leng, Senior VP of Operations at LATAM Cargo.
