Leading aircraft charter specialist Air Charter Service (ACS) has successfully operated a Boeing 747 charter to transport a diverse group of animals from Thailand to a newly developed wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation facility on India’s eastern coast.
The flight carried animals from Bangkok to Ahmedabad, supporting the relocation of rescued wildlife to a recently built 3,000-acre sanctuary that is now home to thousands of animals saved from circuses, zoos and illegal trafficking networks.
Brendan Toomey, CEO of ACS Singapore, said the project required detailed planning and close coordination with multiple stakeholders.
“We received a call from a client looking to transport a wide variety of animals to a sanctuary in India,” Toomey explained. “The shipment included zebras, sloths, wallabies, hawks, pacas and raccoons, all of which required continuous monitoring by onboard veterinarians throughout the flight.”
The combined weight of the animals, specialist enclosures, food supplies and veterinary staff totalled around 50 tonnes, making the Boeing 747 the most suitable aircraft for the mission. With less than two weeks’ notice, ACS worked closely with the Thai Civil Aviation Authority and the client to secure export documentation and obtain the necessary permits within a tight timeframe.
An ACS representative from the company’s Singapore office was stationed on the ground in Bangkok to coordinate with the airport cargo warehouse, arrange a dedicated handling area and ensure the appropriate equipment was in place to load the animals safely and efficiently. The representative also accompanied the flight to India to oversee the offloading process, before the animals continued their onward journey to their new home.
The operation highlights ACS’s expertise in complex and sensitive charter missions, particularly those involving live animal transport and time-critical logistics.