From today, I begin a series of blog posts on how courier companies brave all odds and help in on-time deliveries of some really out-of-the-box consignments. Here goes my very first piece in this series. Do visit the blog regularly for more of these case histories…
It was a mission that required meticulous planning and a total control of operations. One thing out of place and the whole exercise could have gone up in smoke even before it could begin. It was yet another out-of-the-box scenario that stared courier companies in the eye.
The assignment was to transport two giant pandas from Chengdu Zoo in China to Madrid Zoo in Spain. The pandas – Bing Xing (‘Star of Ice’) and Hua Zui Ba (‘Cutey Mouth’) – weighing 100kg and 160kg respectively, had to travel in specially-designed and IATA-compliant cages weighing 80kg.
The mission required a specialist courier company that had a history of transporting livestock of all shapes and sizes. It was an exercise that mandated speedy transit times even while allowing continuous access for veterinarian experts to ensure the bears were in the lap of comfort and safety.
The Madrid Zoo authorities finally chose one courier company for its proven track record of transporting whales and sharks in Spain and Portugal. It could also guarantee minimised transit times through a non-stop flight from Shanghai to Madrid in controlled conditions for the pandas with five zoo curators accompanying them to ensure safety and comfort.
Adding to the complexity of the operation was the constant media presence. Any mistakes would be on international television. But the courier company’s teams in Spain and China were more than ready for it. No sooner was the consignment given, their team swung into action. After much planning, a short internal flight was arranged on Sichuan Airlines to transport the pandas from Chengdu to Shanghai airport’s Freight Acceptance location. From there, the pandas were transferred to TNT Boeing 747 aircraft. Since comfort was of utmost importance, the pandas were positioned at the front of the aircraft for better ventilation and a consistent temperature and pressure. The food boxes were located close to the cages so the caretakers had easy access to them at all times.
Once the aircraft landed at Madrid-Barajas airport, the movement of the pandas was constantly monitored. There were other obstacles to deal with. The team managed speedy checks by the customs and veterinary officials before the Madrid police escorted the pandas to the Madrid zoo. Here again, dedicated trucks of the company were used to ensure a speedier transfer.
An impossible mission made possible through sheer logistical know-how!
