FedEx Express will transport two giant pandas from China to Scotland next Sunday in a specialdelivery that will bring the first such pandas to the UK in more than 17 years.
Working in conjunction with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the ChinaWildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in China, FedEx Express will fly the animals non-stop fromChengdu Airport in China to Edinburgh Airport in Scotland on a specially-chartered Boeing 777Fflight known as the “FedEx Panda Express”. The donated transport is subject to final regulatoryapproval.
Tian Tian (or ‘Sweetie’), an eight year-old female panda, and Yang Guang (or ‘Sunshine’), aneight year-old male panda from Chengdu’s Bifengxia Panda Base, will travel onboard a speciallypanda-decaled FedEx Express Boeing 777F. Their arrival will mark the first time in more than 17years that giant pandas will reside in the United Kingdom. The UK’s last giant panda, MingMing, left London Zoo to return to China on October 26, 1994.
“FedEx Express is uniquely qualified to make this special delivery given our long historyconnecting China to the UK and our extensive global experience in shipping precious cargo, frompackages to pandas,” said Gerald P. Leary, president, FedEx Express Europe, Middle East, IndianSubcontinent and Africa. “It is a privilege to serve as the trusted carrier of these rareanimals, and we are proud to support the preservation efforts of this endangered species.”
Currently, conservationists estimate that only 1,600 pandas remain in the wild. Both Tian Tianand Yang Guang are part of global giant panda conservation programmes, designed to increase thepanda population.
Onboard the Boeing 777F aircraft, which is solely dedicated to the pandas’ journey, Tian Tianand Yang Guang will travel in two custom-built transport containers provided by FedEx Express. Inaddition to donating the air transportation, FedEx Express is providing ground and logisticalsupport in Edinburgh, including a specially-decaled FedEx Express vehicle to deliver the pandas toEdinburgh Zoo. Lothian and Borders Police Force will be on hand to ensure a smooth ride forthese VIP’s—Very Important Pandas.
FedEx Express, Edinburgh Zoo, and Chengdu’s Bifengxia Panda Base have worked collaboratively toensure all necessary precautions have been taken to provide a safe and comfortable flight for thepandas. Animal care experts have been granted special flight privileges to accompany thepandas onboard the aircraft. Upon arrival, the pandas will reside in Edinburgh Zoo’sspecially-built giant panda enclosure.
“The arrival of Tian Tian and Yang Guang is an historic occasion for Edinburgh Zoo,” said HughRoberts, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Zoo. “With the arrival of the giant pandas, the Zoo has furthercemented its role in the future conservation of one of the world’s most endangered species. This isthe beginning of a long-term relationship which will drive a program of international research andeducation and will have massive benefit for the Zoo, Scotland and the UK.”
FedEx Express added that it has a long history of transporting rare and delicate cargo. Over thelast decades it has flown several pandas, polar bears, white tigers, elephants, penguins, mountainlions, gorillas, eagles and even a 13-foot tiger shark used in filming the movie “Jaws.” Otherunusual international cargo transported by FedEx includes a windmill from Denmark, the Ryder Cupand a vintage Jaguar Le Mans car worth more than £1 million.
