Aeroflot transported an Amur tigress from the far East to Moscow for treatment. The transfer took place on August 9 on the regular flight SU1757 Vladivostok-Moscow.
The Amur Tiger Center addressed the airline with a request to transport the wild cat. Aeroflot decided to provide the transportation service free of charge. The animal specialists of the Moscow Zoo made a perforated box measuring 2.25×1.05×1.42 meters for transporting the feline. The box was pre-delivered by a regular airline flight to Vladivostok. Together with the tigress, the container weighed 450 kg.
Aeroflot provided maximum comfort for the unusual passenger at all stages of the journey. By specialists’ advice, the tigress had constant access to drinking water during the flight. The animal survived well the nine-hour flight in the cargo compartment of the Boeing 777-300ER and is now settling in safely in its new surroundings.
In December 2021, a local fisherman in the Anuchinsky District of Primorsky Krai discovered an injured 4-5 month-old predator. Hunting control inspectors, who were called to the scene, transported the animal to a rehabilitation center. Now, the tigress’ condition is not life-threatening, but she will no longer be able to live in the wild, as she needs a special diet and constant veterinary care. It was decided that the feline will be moved to the Center of Rare Animal Reproduction in the Moscow Zoo, and then she will become a participant in the International Captive Tiger Conservation Program.
The young tigress does not have a name yet. Therefore, Aeroflot has announced a contest to choose a name for its unusual passenger. Everybody is welcome to suggest their variant of a name for the young predator in Aeroflot Group’s account on social network VKontakte in the comments under the publication about the launch of the proposals collection. The suggestions will be accepted until August 24. On August 25, the expert group consisting of Aeroflot, Amur Tiger Center, and Moscow Zoo staff will make a short list of pre-selected name options, which will be placed on the airline’s social media accounts for public voting. The results of the voting will be announced on August 26.
