LATAM Cargo has successfully operated a dedicated charter flight transporting eight tigers and seven lions from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Denver, Colorado in the US, with a technical stop in Santiago, Chile.
The flight was carried out following a rescue operation by animal welfare organisation Four Paws International and the big cats will now be relocated to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.
This operation is part of a global effort that Four Paws International 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 in collaboration with freight forwarder DSV, Four Paws International, and the origin agent, Intermodal Logistics Services S.A.
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 specialised transport crates)—the operation required extensive planning that began weeks before take off.
To support the operation, LATAM Cargo mobilised 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.
The operation strictly adhered to the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR), said LATAM Cargo. 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.
The journey also included continuous monitoring by a dedicated specialist, who accompanied the animals on board and supervised ramp procedures. Every movement was planned in advance to minimise exposure, waiting times, and handling of the animals.
Upon arrival in Denver, the animals were transferred directly and swiftly to specially equipped trucks provided by the sanctuary, minimising the time spent on the ramp before beginning their final ground journey to Keenesburg.
Daniel Leng, senior vice president of operations at LATAM Cargo, said: “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.”
