Two giant pandas who became star attractions at France’s Beauval Zoo will depart Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport on a specially arranged flight to Chengdu, China.
Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, who spent two days in quarantine ahead of their flight, left the zoo early this morning under heavy police protection and just arrived to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
The pandas travelled from Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher in France’s Loire Valley to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, an approximately 200-kilometer journey.
Special Flight Operations from CDG
The Air China Cargo Boeing 777-FFT (registered B-2097), scheduled for 12:30 PM local time departure from CDG, will undertake a 12-hour journey to Chengdu in China’s Sichuan Province, home to the renowned panda sanctuary where Huan Huan and Yuan Zi will spend their retirement.
The panda transport represents a highly specialized aviation operation requiring custom-designed travel crates, climate-controlled cargo holds, and veterinary staff aboard to monitor the bears throughout the long-haul journey across Europe and Asia.
Charles de Gaulle Airport, as France’s largest international hub, regularly handles specialized cargo including live animal transport, though giant panda departures represent exceptionally rare VIP operations requiring enhanced security and logistical coordination.
The 12:30 PM departure time allows for daylight loading operations, optimal weather conditions for the initial flight phase, and arrival in Chengdu during appropriate hours for panda welfare upon landing.
Specialized Panda Travel Logistics
Preparing giant pandas for international air travel involves extensive logistics:
- Custom Travel Crates: Large reinforced containers designed specifically for panda dimensions, allowing the bears to move comfortably while ensuring structural integrity during flight turbulence.
- Bamboo Provisions: Sufficient fresh bamboo must be loaded for the 12-hour flight, as pandas consume 12-38 kilograms of bamboo daily. The aircraft cargo hold will be stocked with their preferred bamboo varieties.
- Climate Control: Maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity levels in the cargo area is critical, as pandas are sensitive to heat and require cool, comfortable conditions.
- Veterinary Monitoring: Veterinary staff accompany the pandas, monitoring their vital signs, stress levels, and overall condition throughout the journey.
- Training Preparation: Zoo director Rodolphe Delord noted that Yuan Meng in 2023 “was trained for several days to get ready comfortably for the trip” and “did not show much hesitation in climbing into his special cage filled with bamboo.”
Medical Reason for Early Return
The pandas were originally scheduled to remain in France until January 2027, but the early return was prompted by Huan Huan’s diagnosis with chronic kidney disease, a common condition in bears around her age. The decision prioritizes her medical care at China’s specialized panda facilities in Chengdu.
