Dhaka: Aircraft charter specialist Air Charter Service (ACS) recently relocated more than a hundred animals from Thailand to a newly established wildlife sanctuary in India, using a chartered Boeing 747 freighter.
The flight transported a wide variety of animals from Bangkok to Ahmedabad, from where they were moved onward to a 3,000-acre wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation facility near India’s eastern coastline.
The relocated animals include zebras, sloths, wallabies, hawks, pacas, and raccoons. Many of them were previously rescued from circuses, zoos, or illegal wildlife trafficking networks, according to information shared by the company.
Brendan Toomey, CEO of ACS Singapore, said a team of veterinarians continuously monitored the animals throughout the journey. The combined weight of the animals, their enclosures, food supplies, and accompanying personnel totaled around 50 tons, making the 747 the most suitable aircraft for the operation.
ACS coordinated closely with Thai aviation authorities and other relevant agencies to secure the necessary export permits within a limited timeframe of less than two weeks.
On the ground in Bangkok, arrangements were made for a dedicated airport warehouse area and specialized equipment to ensure safe and efficient loading. ACS personnel also accompanied the flight to India to oversee the unloading process before the animals continued their journey to the sanctuary.
The operation highlights the growing role of specialized air charter services in complex humanitarian and conservation-related logistics.
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