Press release
Giant Pandas Take Off on TNT 747 Freighter "Bing Xing" and "Hua Zuiba" Bringing Good Wishes to Spain from China
(Shanghai, September 8, 2007) At the break of dawn today, two giant pandas took off on TNT's 747 freighter from Shanghai directly to Spain. The pandas are on their way to Spain's Madrid Zoo for a 10-year stay which is a part of the Giant Panda International Conservation Cooperation Project between the two countries. TNT, the world's leading express and mail delivery provider, has been appointed the official carrier, overseeing all stages of the panda transfer.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to deliver the pandas from Chengdu to Madrid," said Michael Drake, Managing Director for TNT Greater China. "This is a challenging task which requires the shortest delivery times, proper en route environmental control and real-time monitoring by onsite veterinarian, so that the pandas will have a safe and comfortable journey to Spain. We are proud to offer such a service."
The male panda, Bing Xing, whose name means "Star of Ice," is seven years and the female panda, Hua Zuiba, or "Cuty Lips," is four years old. A day before, the pair bade farewell to the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding and boarded a TNT delivery truck bound for Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. On the flight to Shanghai, TNT made sure that the deck was temperature and air pressure controlled for a comfortable ride.
Upon their arrival in Shanghai, the pandas were immediately invited into a large air-conditioned vehicle for a night of rest, during which they were closely monitored by veterinarians. In the morning, the pandas boarded TNT's 747 freighter for their direct flight to Madrid this morning, which will take nearly 14 hours.
Bing Xing and Hua Zuiba will land in Madrid at around 3:00 p.m. local time — 9:00 p.m. in Beijing — to the cheers and welcomes of the Spanish people. They will then be transported by TNT Spain to the Madrid Zoo. After a brief break to help them acclimatize to the local environment, they will make their official debut in late September 2007.
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