Two giant pandas received a complementary ride from the US to Chengdu, China last month courtesy of FedEx Express. Tai Shan, a four-and-a-half-yearold male panda born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and Mei Lan, a three-year-old female panda born at Zoo Atlanta, landed at China’s Chengdu Shuangliu Airport aboard a custom-decaled FedEx 777 Freighter, dubbed the ‘FedEx Panda Express’.

Upon arrival, the pandas were transported to their new homes in Chengdu – Tai Shan to the China Conservation and Research Center’s Wolong Nature Reserve, and Mei Lan to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

“Given our experience shipping pandas, it is only natural that we deliver these national treasures to China,” added FedEx Express China senior vice president, Eddy Chan. “Pandas are a great symbol of China and we are privileged to support efforts for their preservation.”

In 2000, FedEx transported Tai Shan’s parents from China to Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo and in 2003, FedEx transported two giant pandas from China to the Memphis Zoo.