About a year ago, 10 black caimans were transported from Aalborg in Denmark to Phoenix in the United States. Transport under controlled conditions was a fairly complicated logistic enterprise.
The black caiman is one of the larger members of the alligator family. Adult individuals reach 5 m in length. It is an endangered species because of its beautiful, black skin. The zoo in Aalborg is famous for its caiman farms. Since four years the crocodiles of this species were born and bred there in captivity. Sometimes the zoo shares the young with other institutions in the world as part of a special reproductive program.
Transport of animals
Animal transport is quite a challenge. About a year ago, the crocodiles set out on a journey for „big water” to Phoenix, Arizona (United States). There were ten of them, aged one to three years, each about 1.8 m long. The task was entrusted to DSV, the operator who previously transported from Aalborg animals such as polar bears, imperial tamarins, and a red panda to other zoological gardens. In the case of a polar bear, the transport conditions required very low temperatures. However, for a dozen or so caimans the comfort of traveling required a constant temperature of 25 degrees C.
The best way to transport reptiles on such a long route was to put them in special ventilated pipes. Containers prepared in this way were lined with inserts allowing to maintain the desired temperature. Limited space was conducive to the reduction of travel-related stress, while caimans did not have to be put to sleep during transport. The reptiles were first transported by trucks and at the airport, moved into heated containers to reach their final destination.
And with what unusual cargoes you, Dear Readers, did you deal with?
Photo: pixabay.com/KateDevious