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A cat rehoming with a difference

[ February 25, 2026   //   ]

DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Express have helped rescue eight big cats from captivity in Honduras and brought them  new lives in the US after a complex international rescue.

The animals – five tigers and three lions – had been living in conditions that, despite the care provided, could not meet their long term species specific needs. Now, following months of recovery and preparation, they have been transported from San Pedro Sula to accredited sanctuaries where they will receive lifelong, specialized care.

Around the world, wildlife experts continue to encounter big cats kept in makeshift zoos, private backyards or improvised attractions  but when rescued, they cannot simply be returned to the wild. They need places where they can heal.

For Guru, Sultan, Amir, Deborah, Aira, Cyrus, Zephora and Juancito, the mission was a new beginning.

DHL created a transport plan designed entirely around the animals’ well-being. An isolated section of the airport was secured to give the big cats a quiet, calm environment during loading. Specially certified crates were prepared to reduce noise and stimuli. DHL Express provided a dedicated freighter aircraft for a direct flight to Miami, chosen specifically to reduce stress and shorten travel time. On board, four veterinarians never left the animals’ side.

When the aircraft touched down in Miami, the cats were transferred to two accredited facilities: Carolina Tiger Rescue and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

There, they will finally have the chance to stretch, explore, rest in shaded quiet, feel grass beneath their paws, and rediscover behaviours that captivity had denied them.

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