After spending his entire life at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Eric was selected to move to Tanzania as part of a breeding program designed to help save the critically endangered species from extinction.
If successful, Eric will be pairing with Laikipia, a female transferred to the Serengeti from an animal park in the U.K. more than a decade ago. Her male companion was killed in a fight with a bull elephant in 2009 before she could produce a calf.
The logistics project to move Eric was coordinated by animal transport specialist Intradco Global on behalf of the Singita Grumeti Fund, a nonprofit organization carrying out wildlife conservation and community development work in Tanzania.
The bulk of Eric’s journey was completed using Qatar Airways Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 freighters, with the rhino traveling in a special pallet containing his feed and water, accompanied by a team of four attendants that included a wildlife veterinarian, veterinary technician and rhino habituation expert.
The route took Eric from Los Angeles’ LAX to Liege and on to Doha, where he was transferred to a second Qatar Airways Cargo aircraft for his journey to Entebbe.
Upon touching down in Uganda, the rhino was moved to a chartered AN-74 aircraft for the final flight leg to the Serengeti National Park. Intradco was required to source the aircraft at very short notice when a Hercules contracted for the flight broke its windscreen.
Intradco worked with the Singita Grumeti Fund and Qatar team to ensure all permits and clearances were in place, including valid documentation from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, a requirement when transporting listed species such as black rhino.
Tom Lamb, Intradco’s project manager, accompanied Eric throughout the journey and traveled with the Singita Grumeti team to the 350,000-acre conservation area in the Serengeti.
“To ensure his safety and minimize stress, Eric was given extensive training to familiarize him with the crate ahead of the flight. We also made sure his catering was top-notch, with an array of treats including rhino biscuits, apples and watermelons to keep him fed, hydrated and happy throughout,” Lamb said.
“Operations of this kind take several months of planning,” Lamb said. “It wouldn’t be cargo aviation without a last-minute drama, and when news of the Hercules damage reached us, we were working around the clock to find a replacement aircraft for the final leg. Fortunately the AN-74 we sourced proved to be the perfect replacement.”
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The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now