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PHOTO ALERT: Chinese Pandas Touch Down in Paris on the "FedEx Panda Express" -- Photos Available on Business Wire's Website and AP PhotoExpress

Dépèche transmise le 15 janvier 2012 par Business Wire

PHOTO ALERT: Chinese Pandas Touch Down in Paris on the "FedEx Panda Express" -- Photos Available on Business Wire's Website and AP PhotoExpress

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world's largest express transportation company, safely delivered two three-year-old giant pandas from Chengdu, China, to Paris, France today. The pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, arrived on a specially-chartered Boeing 777F flight known as the “FedEx Panda Express” and landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport at noon Paris time, 6 a.m. Eastern time. The arrival of these special animals marks the first time in 10 years that giant pandas will reside in France.

The non-stop flight was chartered especially for the VIPs—Very Important Pandas—and the pair travelled in custom-built enclosures provided by FedEx Express. In-flight, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi spent the journey snoozing and eating bamboo. They were accompanied by a Chinese veterinarian and animal handler as well as the managing director from ZooParc de Beauval to look after their needs throughout the journey.

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Giant panda Huan Huan is carefully unloaded after a direct flight from Chengdu, China, to Paris France, aboard the specially-chartered FedEx Panda Express. The safe arrival of the two pandas at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport marks the fifth delivery FedEx Express has made of this endangered species.

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Yuan Zi observes the activity outside his specially-designed travel enclosure after a direct flight from Chengdu, China, to Paris France, aboard the specially-chartered FedEx Panda Express. The two pandas safely delivered to France today will reside at the ZooParc de Beauval, where conservationists hope they will breed. Experts estimate there are just 1,600 giant pandas left in the wild today.

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The FedEx Panda Express – a specially-chartered and uniquely-decaled Boeing 777F flight – lands at Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Onboard are two three-year-old giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, en route to their new home at the ZooParc de Beauval in France.

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After a direct flight on the FedEx Panda Express from Chengdu, China, to Paris France, giant panda Huan Huan is prepared for her trip to a new home at the ZooParc de Beauval. FedEx Express is provided full-service air and ground transportation for the pandas to ensure their safe delivery.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50133698&lang=en