The gorillas were transported 9,000 km, departing from the UK to Brussels, and flown in a specially equipped Boeing 767 to Lagos, Nigeria, and then onto Franceville, Gabon
A family of gorilla at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
LIBREVILLE, Gabon, June 26, 2013/ – In a unique conservation initiative in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation, DHL,
the world’s leading logistics company, has delivered a family of nine
silverback gorillas from Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent to the
Batéké Plateau National Park, Gabon.
The gorillas were transported 9,000 km, departing from the UK to
Brussels, and flown in a specially equipped Boeing 767 to Lagos,
Nigeria, and then onto Franceville, Gabon. For the final leg of the
journey they were flown in a helicopter to the national park in
collaboration with the Gabonese authorities.
In addition to the animals, which have a combined weight of 620kg, no
less than 1,200 kg of food and vets’ equipment accompanied them on
their journey home to the wild.
To accommodate the gorillas’ transport schedule, DHL took two
different aircraft out of commission and temporarily reconfigured its
global network to ensure they could be delivered in as tight a timeframe
as possible.
Western lowland gorillas are classed as a critically endangered
species, and this is the first attempt ever at returning an entire
family to its natural habitat. The Aspinall Foundation’s “Back to the
Wild” initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to restock the wild
with endangered and critically endangered species, following its
uniquely successful programmes of captive breeding at its Kent wildlife
parks.
Phil Couchman, CEO of DHL Express UK & Ireland commented: “It’s
no mean feat moving a family of nine gorillas across the world. This is
an extremely important cause and a great logistical undertaking for DHL –
our priority throughout the operation has been the safety and well
being of the animals.
“In working closely with The Aspinall Foundation, a world-leading
conservation charity, to prepare for the move, we ensured the smoothest
possible journey for the gorillas.
Charles Brewer, Managing Director for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa,
said, “Our dedicated “special delivery” team, which includes staff from
across DHL’s operation, from aircraft engineers to cargo handlers,
security teams, pilots and drivers, have done an excellent job of
ensuring the success of this project. We’re delighted to have been of
assistance to the gorilla family and we hope they enjoy their new home.”
Damian Aspinall, pioneering conservationist and Chairman of The
Aspinall Foundation, said: “The Aspinall Foundation’s Back To The Wild
initiative is unique and comprises easily the most ambitious
reintroduction of the critically endangered species into the wild ever
undertaken anywhere in the world. We are delighted that DHL have so
generously come on board as our partners in this important and exciting
repatriation project.”
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