FedEx Corporation has successfully completed its first round-trip transportation of giant pandas between the United States and China. The operation involved two flights, carrying a total of six pandas. Initially, four pandas were transported from Atlanta, Georgia to Chengdu, China. Subsequently, two pandas were moved from Chengdu to Washington D.C.
The FedEx Panda Express began its journey on October 12 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on October 13. The pandas included Lun Lun and Yang Yang, both aged 27, along with their twin daughters Ya Lun and Xi Lun born in 2016. They safely reached the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
On the return trip, two other pandas were flown from Chengdu to Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington D.C. Departing on October 15, the FedEx Panda Express arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on the same day. Bao Li and Qin Bao, both two years old, were then transported by truck. Bao Li is related to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian as their grandchild.