Airlink Helps Save Endangered Animals

A global operation has successfully returned nearly 1 000 vulnerable and endangered animals to Madagascar, and has evolved into one of the worlds largest repatriations in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.

Early last year, nearly 1 000 tortoises and lemurs were seized as part of an international law enforcement operation while being trafficked through Thailand for likely sale into the international illegal pet trade.

This operation was orchestrated by Thai authorities with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Justice Commission, resulting in arrests in both Thailand and Madagascar.

Once the seized animals were in the custody of Thai authorities, The Royal Foundations United for Wildlife programme convened and mobilised members of its Transport Taskforce, namely Qatar Airways Cargo and Airlink, who generously agreed to provide free transport to return the animals to Madagascar.

This undertaking marks one of the largest seizures and repatriations seen globally and is a complex, costly operation that would not be possible without the collaborative effort of multiple global organisations.