FedEx Corporation transported two pandas, six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang, from Chengdu, China, to Atlanta, Georgia. Working with Zoo Atlanta, the pandas travelled aboard a FedEx Boeing 777-F, known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”
For decades, FedEx has worked with the Chinese government and zoos worldwide to provide specialised transportation for giant pandas. FedEx donated the full transportation cost of this move as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts. The company said it is committed to keeping supply chains moving and connecting communities around the world by enabling global trade.
Throughout their non-stop flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang travelled in custom-built travel crates under the care of Zoo Atlanta animal specialists. The pandas were the sole cargo aboard the aircraft, accompanied only by fresh bamboo, water, and an assortment of their favourite treats.
Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx, said, “We have had the privilege of transporting giant pandas for more than two decades, and every time the FedEx Panda Express is called into service, our entire team feels the significance of the mission. Safely delivering Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to their new home in Atlanta underscores our long-standing commitment to global conservation and our network’s ability to securely transport high-priority, precious cargo.”
Before their trip, the bears spent time getting accustomed to their enclosures to ensure a safe and comfortable journey. Following their arrival at Zoo Atlanta, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have begun their quarantine ahead of their public debut later this year.
FedEx also provided trucking and logistical support in Atlanta to transport the pandas from the airport to Zoo Atlanta. Including this move, FedEx has transported 23 pandas to and from China since 2000.
