Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in Atlanta, from Chengdu, China on 27 September on board the FedEx Panda Express – a Boeing 777 freighter.
FedEx has worked with the Chinese government and zoos worldwide to provide safe, specialized transportation for giant pandas and donated the full transportation cost of the move as part of its corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts.
Throughout their non-stop flight from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang traveled 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 favorite treats.
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 safely transport the pandas from the airport to the zoo.
FedEx chief operating officer, international, and chief executive officer, airline, Richard Smith 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.”
FedEx has now transported 23 pandas to and from China since 2000 including the US, Canada, France and Scotland.
