Davies Turner, the UK’s leading independent freight forwarder, has helped to bring the first-ever Sand Tiger sharks bred in captivity from South Africa to the UK. Th e shipment was facilitated by Davies Turner Air Cargo’s (DTAC) Aquatics team which acted as clearance and handling agent in the UK and was responsible for road delivery to Plymouth from London Heathrow airport.
Th e two Sand Tiger sharks, cousins to the great white shark, were destined for the National Marine Aquarium, the UK’s largest aquarium.
Th e sharks, named Mandela and uS zhaka, were exported from the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), a not-for-profit organisation in Durban.
Th e fi sh were transferred by road from Durban to Johannesburg using a ventilated closed truck. Th ey were fl own to London Heath”row Airport, with the movement from the aircraft to the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (ARC) undertaken by a temperature-controlled truck, set at 22 degrees Centigrade. Ben Southern, livestock manager, Davies Turner Aquatics joined staff from the NMA to oversee the arrival and observe water changes to the tanks in which the sharks travelled before they were then trucked to Plymouth on the same temperature-controlled truck.
Davies Turner Group chairman Philip Stephenson explained: “Moving living cargo always presents unique issues; they are after all the most perishable of freight. Our staff worked in close cooperation with the ARC, MNA and the airline to ensure the safe arrival in the UK and transfer to Plymouth of these lovely creatures.
“Th e Sand Tiger shark is vulnerable in the wild and the work of organisations like NMA and SAAMBR is a valuable attempt to protect them by raising awareness and exposure. Despite a fearsome appearance due to needle sharp teeth, Sand Tiger sharks are relatively placid creatures that would rather swim away than have interactions.”
Davies Turner Aquatics is one of several specialist services that DT Air Cargo off ers in addition to its general airfreight and supply chain management services. Davies Turner Aquatics has specialist expertise in moving a wide range of fi sh and associated products, offering consultancy in meeting individual requirements, or building long-term partnerships with clients, suppliers and partners worldwide.
The Aquatics team handles both freshwater and marine fi sh as well as plants and invertebrates. DT Aquatics only provides services for bona fide importers of ornamental fi sh, and public Aquaria for conservation purposes, but not for research.
