FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., has safely delivered two giant pandas from Chengdu's Bifengxia Panda Base to Edinburgh International Airport in Scotland.
Working in conjunction with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the China Wildlife Conservation Association in China, the specially-chartered Boeing 777F flight known as the "FedEx Panda Express" landed in Scotland on December 4, 2011. The arrival of the pandas marks the first time in more than 17 years that giant pandas will reside in the United Kingdom.
The non-stop flight was chartered especially for the pandas and the pair traveled in custom-built enclosures provided by FedEx Express. In-flight meals of bamboo, apples, carrots, a special panda cake and mineral water were served to the pandas, who spent the journey eating snacks and snoozing.
FedEx Express donated its logistical services for the transportation, providing an expert team to ensure the rare animals' safety. During the flight, the pandas were in the safe hands of seasoned management pilots, all of whom have extensive experience in transporting some of the world's most precious cargo, ranging from white rhinos to penguins.
