Animals that Have Traveled Using FedEx

At Discovery News this week you can learn about the record-breaking shipment of two U.S.-born giant pandas to Chengdu, China. The pandas will make the journey in record time, thanks to a new fuel-efficient, custom-decaled FedEx Express 777 Freighter dubbed the "FedEx Panda Express."

Tai Shan, a 4.5-year-old male born at D.C.'s National Zoo, and Mei Lan, a 3-year-old female panda born at Zoo Atlanta, will be riding in custom-made steel and lexan containers. See-through lexan is also used to make bulletproof windows.

(A recent photo of Tai Shan. Credit: Mehgan Murphy, National Zoo)

(One of the FedEx panda containers. Credit: Daniel Davies, National Zoo)

As unusual as this journey might seem, it's not the first time FedEx Express has transported giant pandas. The world's largest express transportation company brought Tai Shan's parents from China to the D.C. National Zoo in 2000. In 2003, it transported two giant pandas from China to the Memphis Zoo.

Of the latest trip, David J. Bronczek, president and CEO of FedEx Express, said in a press release, "FedEx is uniquely qualified to make this special delivery given our long history connecting the U.S. to China and our extensive global experience in shipping precious cargo, from packages to pandas."

He added, "It is a privilege to serve as the trusted carrier of these rare pandas and we are proud to support the preservation efforts of this endangered species."

Other animals have traveled via FedEx over the years. They include polar bears, white tigers, elephants, penguins, lions, gorillas, eagles, and even a 13-foot tiger shark used in filming the movie "Jaws."

Animals also aren't the only unusual international cargo transported by FedEx.

Such cargo has included a windmill from Denmark, an 11,000-pound helicopter and a five-ton communications satellite.