OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2014. DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, has assisted in the relocation of two giant pandas over 8 000 kilometers from Chengdu, China to Brugelette, Belgium. The female, Hao Hao, and the male, Xing Hui,, both aged four, were successfully delivered via DHL’s global transportation network to their new home at the Pairi Daiza animal sanctuary in Brugelette, Belgium.

‘Hao Hao and Xing Hui’s Pandastic Journey’ started at the China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Chengdu, China on February 22, and ended with a delivery to a specially constructed Chinese Garden at Pairi Daiza, Belgium the following day. The two VIPs – or Very Important Pandas – were flown from China to Belgium on a dedicated DHL Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, accompanied by a team of two animal handlers and a veterinary physician and a plentiful supply of 100 kilograms of bamboo. They were welcomed at Brussels airport by local dignitaries and children from neighboring schools, before a DHL truck took them on the final one-hour journey to Pairi Daiza.

The pandas are expected to spend 15 years at Pairi Daiza, a 55-acre garden that plays host to over 5 000 animals. With the support of the University of Ghent, a special breeding and research program has been designed for them, aimed at helping to avert the future extinction of this endangered species.

“DHL jumped at the chance to support the delivery of our two Very Important Pandas – Hao Hao and Xing Hui – from China to Belgium,“ said Charlie Dobbie, Executive Vice President, Global Network Operations, DHL Express, “We have supported a number of conservation projects in recent years, including the return of nine silverback gorillas from the UK to the wild in Gabon and the delivery of two rare Sumatran tigers from the Australia and the US to ZSL London Zoo for a breeding program. Safely transporting these beautiful but endangered animals furthers our own commitment to supporting conservation and environmental causes around the world. Thanks to the unique challenges of planning and executing a project like this, it also gives us a great opportunity to showcase our expertise and capabilities.”