An eastern black rhino isn’t your typical delivery item but that is exactly what DHL was tasked with transporting recently.

The three-year-old female, named Eliska, was shipped on a dedicated Boeing 757-200 freighter and jetted 6,546km from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic to Tanzania’s Mkomazi National Park, which is home to an ongoing conservation project aimed at helping endangered animal populations to grow and thrive in their natural habitat.

DHL chose the specially modified Boeing to ensure maximum comfort for the 900kg black rhino during the eight-hour flight.

Only 800 eastern black rhinos are believed to survive today after 96 per cent of the species was destroyed between 1970 and 1992.

In the last four years, DHL has also been responsible for shifting two tigers, nine gorillas, five manatees, two pandas, and another three rhinos from the UK to Tanzania.

Ken Allen, CEO of DHL Express, said the successful delivery of Eliska continued a proud tradition of supporting international animal conservation efforts.

“Complex projects like this, where failure is simply not an option, also allow us to showcase the power of the DHL global network and the expertise of our certified international specialists,” he commented.