a. hartrodt transports Brazilian Tapirs and Patagonian Maras to Turkey

Brussels - The airfreight department of international freight forwarder a. hartrodt (Belgium) arranged the transport of three Brazilian Tapirs (Tapirus terestris) and four Patagonian Maras (Dolichotis patagonum) by air from Brussels to Istanbul last month. The animals destined for the zoo of Bursa (Turkey) were shipped in appropriate, custom-made transport boxes. A live animal specialist of a. hartrodt accompanied the precious consignment to ensure the well being of the species and their safe arrival. This special escort would have been able to react immediately if any unexpected difficulties should have arisen during the trip. However, everything went smoothly and the animals now enjoy their new habitat.

a. hartrodt (Belgium) has transported animals, wild and domesticated, as well as pets on a regular basis for nearly twenty years. The company has accumulated a wealth of experience and has professionally trained personnel that know how to deal with this very sensitive cargo. “We plan the transports and special handlings in detail and carry out such delicate assignments with the utmost care. We are fully compliant with both the IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),” explains Sven Naesen, Live Animals & Security Manager at a. hartrodt (Belgium) airfreight n.v. “There is a lot of paperwork for any animal transport. Since 2014 it is mandatory to have a specialized training certificate issued by IATA in order to be able to handle live animal transports. Every shipment requires a health certificate issued according to the rules set by the country of destination. And endangered species like tapirs require additional paperwork, in this case an import and an export CITES certificate.” The company’s high reputation makes it a trusted partner of zoos, parks, sanctuaries, and aquariums. „This shipment illustrates the versatility of our Live Animals product and the strength and depth of knowledge of the a. hartrodt airfreight team in Belgium. We handle live animal shipments almost on a daily basis. Not all are as demanding as this one or the Amur leopard, which we conveyed from Tallinn to Brussels last year to support a European breeding programme to save this endangered species. We are proud that we can guarantee to handle all live animals to the highest professional standards both on the ground and in the air – always in cooperation with a carrier which we choose carefully on the basis of experience and reliability,” says Philippe Fierens, Director Airfreight, a. hartrodt Belgium. “The handling of life animals requires special know how and special people with dedication and even passion for their job. It’s a true niche and the same know how and dedication cannot be easily transferred to lots of other stations. This is the reason that a. hartrodt in Belgium acts as central point of contact and knowledge centre for all live animal transport related activities in the a. hartrodt group of companies”, adds Jens Roemer, Regional Managing Director Belgium, France and Switzerland.