FedEx Archives: 2002 Press Releases

( BW)(TN-FEDEX)(FDX) FedEx Express Transports Six Threatened Polar Bears from Puerto Rico to the U.S.

    "It is our privilege to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and these zoos as part of this rescue mission," said Michael L. Ducker, executive vice president, International, FedEx Express. "We are proud to put our unique global network to this use in order to relocate the bears to a more suitable environment."
    In the first leg of the trip, FedEx Express will transport the bears - Willhelm, Masha, Boris, Kenneth, Royale and Barle - from San Juan to the FedEx Express Hub in Memphis onboard a DC-10 aircraft. Later in the day, the bears will be transloaded to three other aircraft in Memphis to fly to their final destinations near Seattle, Wash., Detroit, Mich., and Charlotte, N.C. FedEx Express will use its customs clearance expertise to expedite the animals through U.S. Customs.

    FedEx Express has considerable experience in transporting animals, including elephants, rhinos, lions and gorillas. In December 2000, FedEx provided air transportation, ground support and logistical expertise to deliver two giant pandas from Chengdu, China, to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. In October 2002, FedEx transported six rare white tigers from Memphis, TN to Bangkok, Thailand so that work could continue on an endangered species breeding program.

    The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

    The American Zoo and Aquarium Association Bear Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) worked tirelessly to secure permanent homes for the bears so that they can begin recovering immediately from their inhumane treatment and accompanying illness. In March 2002, a seventh bear was taken from the Circus and is now thriving at the Baltimore Zoo in Baltimore, Md.

    According to Diana Weinhardt, curator of large mammals at the Houston Zoo and chair of AZA's Bear TAG, "The bears will be getting new homes in three wonderful facilities. The Detroit Zoo will be taking in the female bear, Barle, while the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, WA will house two males, Kenneth and Boris. The remaining three male polar bears named Wilhelm, Masha and Royale, will go to the North Carolina Zoo, in Asheboro, N.C."

    About FedEx Corp.

    With annual revenues of $21 billion, FedEx Corp. is the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently, including: FedEx Express, the world's largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, North America's second largest provider of small-package ground delivery service; FedEx Freight, the largest U.S. provider of regional less-than-truckload freight services; FedEx Custom Critical, the world's largest provider of expedited time-critical shipments; and FedEx Trade Networks, a provider of customs clearance, international freight forwarding and trade facilitation.

    --30--JB/na*

    CONTACT: FedEx Corp.
             Sally Davenport, 901/434-7765
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    KEYWORD: TENNESSEE MICHIGAN NORTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON
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    SOURCE: FedEx Corp.