Panda Mei Lan flies out of Atlanta

Arts and Culture

Photos of Mei Lan, Zoo Atlanta’s star giant panda, being packed up and loaded onto a FedX Express 777F plane at the FedX Express facility at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday, February 4, 2010 for her trip to China.

Zoo Atlanta panda keeper Heather Roberts escorts Mei-Lan in her crate to the plane at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday morning. Zoo Atlanta's star giant panda, 3-year old Mei Lan, was packed up and loaded on a FedX Express 777F plane at the FedX Express facility.

Crews load Mei Lan (foreground) and her box of supplies. Mei Lan's crate has 1/16th inch sheet metal and a 3/8th inch thick plexi-glass.

Zoo Atlantas panda keeper, Heather Roberts keeps Mei Lan calm before being rolled out on the tarmac Thursday. She will accompany Mei Lan on her journey to China and stay with her one week.

Mei Lan gets ready to be lifted up to the cargo door.

Mei Lan takes her last look at Atlanta as she is loaded. The 777F known as the "Panda Express" have two custom built transport containers for both pandas for their 14.5 hour journey from D.C. to China.

Ground crews tow the plane off for takeoff.

Ground crews check out the engine before departure.

The Atlanta Fire Rescue crash trucks sent off the giant cargo plane with two arches of streaming water as a salute and farewell.

From left, President, International, FedEx Express, Michael Ducker, Airport General Manager Benjamin DeCosta, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and former Zoo Atlanta president and CEO Dennis Kelly make remarks after Mei Lan is loaded.

Mei Lan peers from her crate as she is loaded on board. Mei Lan's flight will stop in D.C. to pick up her cousin panda, Tei Shan at the National Zoo. Then the two will be flown to Chengdu, China.

Zoo Atlanta's curator of carnivores, Dr. Rebecca Snyder, who oversaw the panda program paces the tarmac waiting for Mei Lan to be loaded.

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Zoo Atlanta panda keeper Heather Roberts escorts Mei-Lan in her crate to the plane at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Thursday morning. Zoo Atlanta's star giant panda, 3-year old Mei Lan, was packed up and loaded on a FedX Express 777F plane at the FedX Express facility.

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