FedEx Makes a Special Delivery for Valentine’s Day: A Rare Northern Fur Seal
February 10 2015 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Seal Will Meet Future Mate in Boston
A couple of special northern fur seals will have an
unforgettable Valentine’s Day this year with a little help from
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX).
Commander, a rare northern fur seal, was
delivered to Boston via FedEx to meet his future mate for
Valentine's Day. (Photo: Business Wire)
Commander, a nearly 300-pound 11-year-old male northern fur
seal, was transported via a donated FedEx flight from Seattle to
Boston. Commander will soon meet Ursula, a 16-year-old female
northern fur seal, one of the species’ last reproductively viable
females in an American zoo or aquarium.
The number of northern fur seals in U.S. aquariums has dwindled
to just nine, and the rendezvous, just in time for Valentine’s Day,
is part of a breeding collaboration between the Seattle Aquarium
and the New England Aquarium designed to increase the
population.
“Sustaining a population of northern fur seals in high profile
facilities like the Seattle Aquarium and the New England Aquarium
allows visitors to learn more about this amazing species, and
creates the human/animal bond necessary to inspire conservation,”
said Traci Belting, curator of mammals and birds at the Seattle
Aquarium. “Biological data collected from northern fur seals in
human care contributes to the development of conservation plans for
northern fur seals in the wild.”
Commander was transported by FedEx in a specially-designed
enclosure, and he was accompanied by his veterinarian and one of
his trainers throughout his journey.
Commander will make his new home at the New England Aquarium,
where he will be introduced to a community of fur seals, including
Ursula.
“Commander will be introduced to our colony of fur seals well
before breeding season, which begins in the summer,” said Kathy
Streeter, New England Aquarium marine mammals curator. “This will
give him enough time to adapt to his new home and engage in
courtship behaviors with Ursula. Ursula has successfully raised two
pups in the past. Hopefully, she and Commander will mate and
contribute to the genetic diversity of northern fur seals in the
U.S.”
“FedEx is committed to sustainability, and is grateful for the
opportunity to play a role in this important initiative,” said
David J. Bronczek, president and chief executive officer, FedEx
Express. “We wish the best for Commander and Ursula and commend the
work of the Seattle and New England Aquariums in this effort.”
The Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and the New York Aquarium are
also part of the nationwide breeding effort.
Northern fur seals, which have some of the thickest fur of any
animal in the world, were once hunted for their pelts, but are now
protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as a depleted
species. It is estimated there are about 666,000 in the wild, but
that number is decreasing. They can be found throughout the
northern Pacific Rim, and their main breeding colonies are in the
Pribilof and Commander Islands in the Bering Sea.
Editor Note: Broadcast quality b-roll is available for download
here: https://vimeo.com/fedexdownload/review/119174608/b1b9d43a57
(download Original version). For hi-res images, please contact
FedEx Media Relations at 901-434-8100.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses
worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and
business services. With annual revenues of $47 billion, the company
offers integrated business applications through operating companies
competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the
respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most
admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000
team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety,
the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of
their customers and communities. For more information, visit
news.fedex.com.
About the Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington State’s leading
environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the
region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information
about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research
initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and
university partners. The Aquarium is located on Pier 59, at 1483
Alaskan Way.
About New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is one of the most prominent and
popular aquariums in North America and is a recognized
international leader in ocean conservation, education and research.
The Aquarium is among New England’s most-visited tourist
attractions and is cultivating widespread public awareness about
the benefits and responsibility in improving the health of the
oceans and the Earth.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150210005311/en/
FedEx Media RelationsKatie Wassmer,
901-434-5593katie.wassmer@fedex.com
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