animals in the air Express
and CEO of FedEx Express, noted that it was “a privilege to serve as the trusted carrier of these rare pandas” and that special ground and logistical support had been made available. FedEx vehicles carried the pandas to and from the airports involved and local police were on hand at both ends of the journey
to ensure a smooth and trouble-free ride. Animal care experts from both zoos had been granted special permission to accompany the pandas on the aircraft. Bronczek pointed out that
the FedEx pilots and drivers selected to transport the pandas were among the company’s most seasoned team members.
permits individual healthcare inspections, feeding and watering that take into account the specific welfare requirements of each animal.
LEGAL PROCESSES The second major challenge in the movement of animals, Schoppa said, is the proliferation of administrative and legal processes pertaining to international boundaries. “Red tape causes delays. It is increasing, and rightly so, because we have to ensure each animal is protected and prevent trade in endangered species or animal products such as ivory – but it can interfere with the protection of animal species by legitimate groups.” In this regard, Schoppa, who is manager, Quickpak
product development at US carrier Continental Airlines – now merged with fellow US carrier United Airlines – has personal experience. She was once directly involved in the rescue of seven bears that had been caged outside in San Antonio, Texas – where the climate is hot and dry. The animals, which had been kept for some sort of performing act, were rescued by the local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Houston on the death of their owner. Six of the creatures were native to North America, so they could be sent to US zoos. The other, however, was an elderly Romanian brown
bear. Named ‘Betsy’, the animal had to remain in the custody of the Houston SPCA for two years while the organisation worked through the necessary legal processes to obtain permits for export to a WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) facility for bears near Bucharest. Continental provided a complementary flight to take Betsy to Frankfurt, from where she was trucked to Bucharest. Schoppa noted: “You have to have specialist knowledge
to deal with these regulations – you have to go to the experts, they have the contacts and know the rules.”
FOR THE FUTURE Schoppa stated that in the future: “We will continue to see the US Transportation Security Administration try to get its hands on animal transportation. This commodity is the only thing that can be transported by an unknown shipper in a box with a black cloth over it (to reduce stress on the animal). Who knows if such a shipment could pose a threat? “A secure shipper is preferable. Live animals are exempt
from the known shipper programme, and alternative screening methods such as visual checks, or direct contact with the shipper, are used instead of the usual methods.” Guillaume observed that legislation pertaining to the
safe and humane transit of animals is likely to become “more and more stringent, so we will need to adapt. This means more constraints, but ultimately we will improve the welfare and safety of the animals,” he said. For Schoppa, the priority is that policy must be
established and implemented from the ground upwards. “I want to stress the importance of industry associations like the ATA, WSPA, IATA and so on collaborating to establish best practice, rather than have governments bombard us with regulations. “We must try to influence governments as they consider
regulations, to ensure we do the right thing by the animals being moved – and by the transporter too.”
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