Two Giant Pandas from China will travel by Federal Express' plane from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, to the United States on December 6, 2000.
Currently housed at the China Research and Conservation Center for Giant Panda in Wolong of Sichuan, Tian Tian, a three-year-old male panda, and Mei Xiang, a two-year-old female panda, will fly
on a FedEx MD-11 jet from Chengdu to the Washington Dulles International Airport.
From the airport, a caravan of FedEx vehicles will deliver the pandas to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
FedEx has provided funding for two custom-built transport containers, which will house the pandas during their 17-hour flight.
Veterinarians from the national zoo and the China Research and Conservation Center have been granted special flight privileges so that they can accompany the pandas during the trans-pacific journey.
David Cunningham, president of FedEx Asia-Pacific Division, said, "FedEx's commitment to bring the giant pandas to the U.S. highlights our support of the communities in which we do business, as well as our support for animal conservation and education efforts, and it showcases our unparalleled express transportation services to and from China."
(People’s Daily 11/28/2000)
