With fewer than 300 Sumatran tigers now in the wild, ZSL London Zoo is hoping to breed Sumatran tigers as part of a wider conservation support program. The Zoo enlisted the help of DHL Express to transport the two wild animals. Taking mating rituals and the behavior in their natural habitat into account, Melati, the female tiger from the Perth Zoo in Australia, was brought to the zoo first on September 27 and given time to establish her territory. Jae-Jae, the male tiger from the Akron Zoo in Ohio, was then introduced two weeks later on October 14.
'This was certainly a unique delivery for us with many logistical challenges, but our team of international specialists was up to the task and made the safety of the tigers our number one priority,' said Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express U.S.
To ensure the tigers' safety while on board, special custom-made travelling crates were created to allow each tiger's on-board keeper to monitor their well being throughout the journey. They also were provided food, water and a soft bedding to keep them comfortable for the trip. 'This was a very worthwhile cause that supports species conservation,' Clough added. 'We were excited to have the opportunity to work with the London Zoo and help these tigers arrive safely to their new home.'
DHL Express temporarily reconfigured its global network to ensure the tigers could be delivered in less than 24 hours. A dedicated tiger team comprised of staff from across DHL's operation included aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security teams, pilots and couriers to ensure the complete success of this project. A dedicated zookeeper from ZSL London Zoo also accompanied each tiger throughout their journeys.
