American Airlines Cargo safely transports orangutan from Argentina to US

Last week (September 27) American Airlines Cargo has successfully moved Sandra, a 33-year-old orangutan with human rights from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Florida, US.

When transporting Sandra from Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), airline cargo staff provided care in accordance with federal labor laws and CDC (Center for Disease Control) procedures.

In addition, the cargo operations and sales teams at DFW and EZE worked with Sandra’s handlers and airport personnel to ensure her wellbeing throughout the entire journey.

The orangutan travelled the 11-hour flight on board a B787-8 aircraft, inside in a container made for her and to which she was accustomed.

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Upon arrival, the orangutan was safely loaded into a van and driven to Sedgwick County zoo in Kansas, US, for quarantine where she will undergo medical checks before moving to her final home at the sanctuary for Great Apes in Florida.

“It was an honor to provide our services to aid in Sandra’s relocation and eventual new home in a more suitable environment,” said said David Vance, vice president operations for American Airlines Cargo. “Our teams worked hard and quickly to ensure everything ran smoothly, and we look forward to following Sandra’s story.”

Sandra, who was born in Germany, spent her life in captivity before moving to an Argentinian zoo 25 years ago. After protests in recent years to provide her with improved, more stimulating living conditions, she was granted human rights for a non-human by Argentine judge Elena Liberatori. The judge granted these rights in order to aid in her transportation and eventual relocation to a primate sanctuary.