DHL goes wild!

DHL Global Forwarding has continued its commitment to supporting wildlife by assisting a conservation organisation with the rescue of five lions and one tiger from captivity. The animals were previously kept in a private zoo in Chernivtsi and a zoo in Nikolaev, in the west and south of Ukraine respectively.

Acting on behalf of Warriors of Wildlife, DHL Global Forwarding safely relocated the animals – all born in Ukraine – to South Africa. The non-profit organisation has now rescued a total of 28 wild cats and other animals from Ukraine. In the past, DHL Global Forwarding has also helped to relocate several brown bears, pandas, and most recently Kaavan, “the world’s loneliest elephant”.

“To make the journey as pleasant as possible for our special guests, profound expertise and a well-coordinated team are key. Our ‘Lions and Falcons of DHL’, as I like to call our staff, brought the animals safely back to their wild home base,” says Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding MEA. “In the sanctuary of Warriors of Wildlife, they are finally back where they belong – two of them have South African parents. The lions Hercules, Cher, Khaya, Ilana, and another male lion that was named Arslan by our Turkish Airfreight team, as well as the tiger Kisa, travelled with us for 72 hours. It was not an easy job, but one we accepted wholeheartedly.”

Throughout the journey, the animals were monitored by veterinarian specialists, while in Ukraine, the DHL team had the support of a Ukrainian vet until departure. Together with the director of Warriors for Wildlife and another veterinarian, they boarded their flight from Boryspil International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg before travelling by road to their new home, the Simbonga Game Farm & Sanctuary near Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

“Transporting wild cats is always a great challenge and requires the trust and cooperation of all parties involved. With DHL as an experienced animal logistics partner, we were able to manage this complex coordination effort with ease and bring the animals safely back to their home. Now, the lions and the tigress are in the very best environment with the proper care they need,” says Lionel de Lange, director of Warriors of Wildlife and Simbonga Game Farm & Sanctuary.