FedEx Corporation has transported six giant pandas between the United States and China.
The roundtrip journey departed Atlanta, Georgia, arriving in Chengdu, China, where it delivered four pandas and then returned to Washington, DC with two pandas. The pandas travelled aboard a FedEx Boeing 777-F, known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”
For more than two decades, FedEx has worked with the Chinese government and zoos around the world to safely transport giant pandas to and from China. FedEx donated the transportation cost as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts.
The four pandas included 27-year-old female Lun Lun and 27-year-old male Yang Yang, who have resided at Zoo Atlanta since 1999, and their twin female offspring, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, born at Zoo Atlanta in 2016. They have now safely arrived at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
On the return flight, FedEx transported two pandas from Chengdu to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, DC. The FedEx Panda Express arrived at Dulles International Airport where the pandas were then taken by truck to the Smithsonian. The two pandas aboard included two-year-old male Bao Li and two-year-old female Qing Bao.
“Each giant panda move is special, and we’re always honoured when selected as the trusted transportation provider,” said COO, International and CEO, Airline, Richard W. Smith. “We have had the privilege of transporting pandas since 2000, but this was our first roundtrip move, delivering the bears to and from China within the same aircraft journey.”
Animal care experts from Zoo Atlanta were on board the flights. The animals were the only cargo on both flights, aside from supplies including bamboo, water, and the pandas’ favourite treats.
In other news, industry executives in Germany debate the promising areas of AI and autonomous driving.