Shanghai, China, November 10, 2023 - Last night, threegiant pandas, including 25-year-old Mei Xiang, 26-year-old TianTian, and their three-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, arrived in Chengdu,China on a FedEx Express charter flight from Washington, D.C.Working with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and ConservationBiology Institute, the giant pandas began their journey on November8 and traveled via a FedEx Express Boeing 777F, dubbed the “FedExPanda Express”.
FedEx has long worked with the Chinese authorities and zoosaround the world to safely ship giant pandas to and from China.FedEx is proud to donate the cost of transporting the pandas aspart of its ongoing corporate social responsibility andenvironmental conservation efforts.
On their journey to China, the pandas were accompanied by animalcare experts from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and ConservationBiology Institute and traveled in custom-built transport enclosuresprovided by FedEx. The pandas were the only cargo on thetrans-Pacific flight from Washington’s Dulles International Airportto China’s Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, aside fromsupplies such as bamboo, water, and their favorite treats,including sugar cane, apples, and pears.
“We are deeply honored to again serve as the transportationprovider of giant pandas. The safe delivery of Mei Xiang, TianTian, and Xiao Qi Ji is a testament to the company’s commitment andability to securely ship precious cargo,” said Richard Smith,president and chief executive officer, Airline and International,FedEx. “We are proud to be entrusted with transporting thesebeloved animals through our global integrated air and groundnetwork.”
Before their trip, the pandas spent time getting familiar withtheir crates to ensure a safe and comfortable flight. Upon arrivalin Chengdu, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji were greeted onthe tarmac by their new keepers before moving to the Shenshupingfacility in Wolong, where they will quarantine for approximately 30days.
“It marks the tenth FedEx successful delivery of giant pandassince 2000,” said Eddy Chan, senior vice president of FedEx Expressand president of FedEx China. “The giant panda is a nationaltreasure of China. We’re proud to be the trusted carrier to supportthese important deliveries. It demonstrates our commitment to Chinaand the friendly exchanges between the people of China and theU.S.”
FedEx also provided trucking and logistical support inWashington, D.C. to safely transport the pandas from theSmithsonian’s National Zoo to the airport. Including this move,FedEx has had the privilege of transporting 15 different pandas on10 separate flights over the past two decades, includingtransporting Mei Xiang and Tian Tian to the Smithsonian’s NationalZoo from China in 2000 and their cubs from the Smithsonian’sNational Zoo to China, including:
Tai Shan in 2010
Bao Bao in 2017
Bei Bei in 2019
The other previous deliveries of giant pandas to and from Chinainclude:
2023: Ya Ya from USA to China
2013: Er Shun and Da Mao from China to Canada
2012: Huan Huan and Yuan Zi from China to France
2011: Tian Tian and Yang Guang from China to Scotland
2003: Ya Ya and Le Le from China to USA