Four golden-bellied mangabey monkeys have begun a 6,000-mile (9,656-kilometer) journey to Europe.
The two male and two female primates are on their way from the San Antonio Zoo in the U.S. via DHL’s Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hub to Budapest Zoo.
Golden-bellied mangabeys are some of the most rarely seen on Earth, with eight of the 44 in captivity being housed at the Budapest Zoo.
The delivery will promote breeding programs for the species at the Budapest Zoo as well as two other zoos – one in France and another in the Netherlands.
“DHL is committed to supporting projects that serve important social or environmental goals, and this one is a wonderful way to make a real impact on species conservation,” Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express U.S., said. “We are proud to donate our global network and provide our international logistics expertise to ensure these rare primates are delivered safely to their final destination.”
The monkeys are under the supervision of a San Antonio Zoo animal care expert who will accompany them during their entire journey, providing food, water and monitoring them as necessary.