Bao Bao flies to China aboard FedEx Panda Express
The FedEx Panda Express headed from Washington to China Tuesday carrying National Zoo-born panda Bao Bao, her entourage and a payload of bamboo and snacks.
The Boeing 777F Freighter left the FedEx Express world hub at Memphis International Airport Tuesday morning for a rendezvous with the 31⁄2-year-old giant panda cub and zookeepers at Washington’s Dulles International Airport.
Bao Bao was due to arrive at a panda research preserve in Chengdu at 4:50 a.m. CST Wednesday after a nonstop 161⁄2-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean and across Eurasia.
She’s going home as part of an animal conservation agreement that requires the National Zoo to repatriate offspring of Chinese-loaned pandas before their fourth birthdays. Her new home will be the China Conservation and Research Center’s Dujiangyan Nature Reserve.
The Memphis Zoo received a pair of pandas on loan from China in 2003, Le Le and Ya Ya, but they’ve never reproduced.
Bao Bao becomes the 13th panda transported aboard the FedEx Panda Express since 2000.
“At FedEx we take great pride in using our global networks to move precious cargo around the world,” said Dave Bronczek, president and chief operating officer of FedEx. “Through our charitable shipping program, we are honored to be entrusted with Bao Bao’s journey to her new home in China. Our team of skilled logistics experts, pilots and drivers are honored to support the efforts to preserve this beloved, rare animal. I extend a special thanks to our team members who go above and beyond every single day to make a positive impact in our communities.”
The Panda Express, carrying four pilots and two zookeepers, took off from Washington at 12:46 p.m. CST Tuesday.
Bao Bao is traveling in a custom-built enclosure and with a cargo of 50 pounds of bamboo, two pounds of apples, two bags of leafeater biscuits, two pounds of cooked sweet potatoes and 10 gallons of water.
FedEx donates the transportation as part of its corporate social responsibility program and environmental conservation efforts.
Fleet Capt. John Hunt is pilot for the flight. Also on the crew are Capt. Dave Simpson, Capt. Kirk Williams and Capt. Mark Fisher. They have a combined 97 years service with the Memphis-based company. It’s Hunt’s third time working on the Panda Express and Williams’ second time.