FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the ZooParc de Beauval have announced the loan of two giant pandas from China to ZooParc de Beauval in France.
FedEx Express is providing logistical services to transport the giant pandas on Sunday, January 15, subject to final regulatory approval. Working in conjunction with the ZooParc de Beauval and the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG) in China, FedEx Express will fly three-year-old female Huan Huan and three-year-old male panda Yuan Zi non-stop from Chengdu Airport in China to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport in France aboard a specially-chartered and panda-decaled Boeing 777F flight known as the “FedEx Panda Express.” Upon arrival in France, the pandas will be transported by FedEx Express on a specially-decaled vehicle from the airport to ZooParc de Beauval.
The arrival of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi will mark the first time in more than 10 years that giant pandas will reside in France.
“We are honored to lend our expertise and capabilities in welcoming the arrival of the pandas to France” said Gerald P. Leary, president, FedEx Express Europe, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
“FedEx Express is uniquely qualified to make this special delivery; our recent shipment of two giant pandas to Edinburgh, Scotland, demonstrates our trusted expertise in handling and delivering these precious species. It is a privilege to serve as the trusted carrier of these rare animals, and we are proud to support the preservation efforts of these beautiful and endangered species. Combined with the longstanding experience of FedEx in shipments between France and China and the use of our state-of-the-art aircraft, FedEx is well positioned to meet the needs that such sensitive shipments require.”
The FedEx Express logistical operation includes ground and air transportation and the provision of two custom-built transport containers for the pandas. By deploying the Boeing 777F aircraft to transport the endangered species, FedEx Express is providing a direct flight from China to France, ensuring the pandas the shortest flight time. The fuel-efficient Boeing 777F aircraft is the world’s largest twin-engine cargo aircraft and the newest addition to the FedEx Express global fleet.
FedEx Express, ZooParc de Beauval, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding have collaborated extensively to ensure all necessary precautions have been taken to provide a safe and comfortable flight for the pandas. Animal care experts have been granted special flight privileges to accompany the pandas onboard the aircraft. Upon arrival, the pandas will reside in ZooParc de Beauval’s specially-built giant panda enclosures.
“The arrival of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi is a historic event for ZooParc de Beauval, marking the accomplishment of a great collaboration with China and a lifelong commitment to animals and their protection. It has been our dream for a long time and we have been looking forward to this moment for five years now, since the Zoo first embarked on this epic journey to bring giant pandas to France,” said Françoise Delord, founder and president of ZooParc de Beauval. “Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to create a world-class enclosure to house our newest additions, which will offer visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view these extraordinary animals.”
“With the arrival of the giant pandas, ZooParc de Beauval has further cemented its role in the future conservation of one of the world’s most endangered species. This is the beginning of a fruitful, long-term partnership and cooperation which will drive research and conservation programs between Beauval and the Chengdu panda base,” added Rodolphe Delord, chief executive, ZooParc de Beauval.
Currently, conservationists estimate that only 1,600 pandas remain in the wild. Both Huan Huan and Yuan Zi are part of global giant panda conservation programs designed to increase the panda population.
Due to security regulations, the departure and arrival events of the pandas will be closed to the general public, but people can follow the pandas’ journey at http://blog.fedex.com/panda-express-france or http://news.fedex.com/PandaExpress2012.
Source: Business Wire
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