OREANDA-NEWS  On 19 November was announced, that Volga-Dnepr airlines dispatched three polar beluga dolphins from Vladivostok to Narita (Japan) on board the Ilyushin 76TD-90VD.

The marine mammals were transported for the Yokohama oceanarium in Japan. The carriage took place due to the Vladivostok oceanarium transfer to its new location. It is estimated to be constructed on Russky Island and to resume in 2012.

The dolphins were loaded aboard at Vladivostok Airport. The animals each weighing 800 kilos were first placed into special containers half-filled with water and then loaded on board the IL-76TD-90VD. The dolphins felt alright during the flight. The Japanese oceanarium personnel kept a constant check on their health. The beluga dolphins were further trucked from Narita Airport to the Yokohama oceanarium.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines was singled out of other carriers not by accident since the airline’s fleet comprises modernized ramp IL-76s which are allowed to operate to Japan. The customer was Volga-Dnepr General Sales Agent in Japan – IAS Inc. The transportation was prepared by Georgy Sokolov, Sales Manager; Vadim Belov, Lead Manager, Customer Service; Dmitry Dresvyannikov, Manager, Customer Service; and Evgeny Venikov, Engineer, Load Planning.