China airlines’ Cargo Team has accepted the consignment from Nagoya Higashiyama zoo for the shipment of two gigantic black rhinoceros to be shipped from Nagoya to Taipei on July 28, 2007. After having stopped over in Taiwan for two days, they departed via China Airlines’ cargo flight for Colombo early in the morning of July 31, 2007. This was indeed a transport of delicate and special cargo which again had been well recognized by the cargo consignee as breaking a historical record.

Rhinoceros is the only next to elephant as the second largest live animal on earth and is also considered presently one of the species that is on the brink of extinction. This time, the black rhinoceros shipped weighed 1200 kilos and 1280 kilos respectively. Since black rhinoceros is a highly sensitive animal, Japanese Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo has had high demands for the shipment and has been holding discussions with China Airlines for over half a year. In fact, China Airlines has had experience for shipping different kinds of live animas giraffes, small whales, teddy bears etc. Nonetheless, for shipping black rhinoceros, this is the first time. As far as cargo services is concerned, apart from air transportation, there also includes ground handling lay over time. As long as the handling lay over time takes longer, there involves more difficulties.

During the entire process of transportation, apart from the care of two accompanying zoologists, the temperature on the way had to be controlled between centigrade 18 to 22 degrees including the packing cases had to be in line with the IATA live animals regulations regardless to mention the fact that the ramp dragging speed had to be maintained at the hourly speed of 5 miles. Furthermore, during ground stop duration period, it had to be isolated from other cargo as well as other animal so that they might avoid noisy environment. Moreover, based on animal and plantation quarantine regulations, upon arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, the black rhinoceros needed to go through quarantine and during the process of transportation, the discharge the rhino produced would need to depart from Taiwan along with the rhino as well. All these firm and strict transportation terms were trials to China Airlines.

China Airlines’ cargo team has been well recognized globally with a leading place. Presently, it has been placed as the world’s leading number five in terms of IATA’s international freight volume. Apart from general cargo business, China Airlines has frequently been assigned to ship delicate merchandise as well as highly valued articles such as satellites etc.