- Singapore’s first large panda cub, Le Le, traveled to China on Tuesday.
- The panda cub took a 4.5-hour-long flight to China by way of Singapore Airways.
- The flag provider stated it spent the previous 5 months making ready for Le Le’s journey dwelling.
Singapore Airways was given a monumental job in January: They have been put accountable for sending Le Le, a 2.5-year-old large panda cub, to China.
Born in August 2021, Le Le was Singapore’s first large panda cub. The cub’s dad and mom, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, traveled to Singapore on mortgage in 2012. Each pandas are set to return to China in 2027.
Le Le, nevertheless, needs to be separated from his dad and mom. Resulting from conservation considerations, China requires host international locations to return any cubs born there.
The journey again dwelling was a sophisticated one to execute.
“The Singapore Airways workforce has spent the final 5 months poring by means of each little element to arrange for this particular flight,” stated Gajandran Sokayan, an assistant supervisor on the airline who oversees harmful items and particular cargo.
Pre-flight preparation started again in December
Mandai Wildlife Group
Le Le made one final public look in Singapore on December 13 at River Wonders, Singapore’s river-themed wildlife park. The cub went into quarantine for the large journey on December 14.
The zoo’s workforce then used optimistic reinforcement coaching to familiarize the cub with a customized journey crate.
The crate was geared up with detachable plywood boards for feedings and checks.
Attending to the airport whereas beating the Singaporean warmth
Mandai Wildlife Group
On the day of the large transfer, Le Le’s crate needed to be transported from the zoo to the airport with an air-conditioned truck. The truck’s temperature was stored between 12 and 16 levels Celsius to maintain issues good and funky for the furry traveler.
Using safely on a pallet
Mandai Wildlife Group
After arriving on the airport, Le Le’s crate needed to be secured to a pallet earlier than loading it onto the aircraft. This pallet additionally contained journey necessities for the large panda cub. The entire weight of the palletized crate was round 600 kilograms.
No boarding queues for this younger traveler
Mandai Wildlife Group
The pallet was then loaded by means of the nostril of SIA’s Boeing 747-400F freighter plane. Just like the reefer truck, the aircraft needed to be pre-cooled one hour earlier than boarding.
Singapore Airways
The pallet was then locked in place on the plane earlier than takeoff to cut back motion in the course of the flight.
Farewell baby
Mandai Wildlife Group
Le Le did not journey alone — he was accompanied by a keeper and veterinarian from Singapore and a zookeeper from China.
The enormous panda cub was additionally served a particular in-flight meal throughout his journey — bamboo, bamboo shoots, fruit, pellets, and water.
SIA stated in a press launch on Wednesday that Le Le arrived safely in China on January 16. The panda cub is now being quarantined, and the China Conservation and Analysis Middle for the Big Panda will quickly assign Le Le to a brand new, everlasting dwelling.
