LOOK Emirates paints its planes with endangered animals

Emirates has launched two A380 jets wearing special livery in support of United for Wildlife. This is a global collaboration that unites the efforts of the world’s leading wildlife charities in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade.The livery features some of the planet’s wildlife threatened by poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. With this launch, the airline aims to raise awareness of the illegal wildlife trade and communicate the need for urgent action.The two A380s will be operating flights this week. The first one departed for London on 2 November and a second operated to Mauritius on 5 November, each wearing a different design featuring endangered wildlife.The decal on the first flight featured six endangered species, while the second flight featured a decal with rhinos and elephants. Both designs cover the passenger aircraft almost from nose to tail, spreading over the wings and under-belly of the plane.According to a statement from Emirates, the project was entirely designed, produced, and applied by Emirates’ in-house staff and both of these are the largest decals the airline has put on any aircraft. It took a team of 28 people and two and a half days to apply the decals on one A380.View the time lapse video of the aircraft putting on its new livery here.https://youtu.be/HZA9xVsPbpUIn addition to its two A380s literally “flying” the flag for the cause, Emirates will run regular feature stories about wildlife protection in its in-flight magazines, and showcase podcast interviews, wildlife programming and feature films on its ice in-flight entertainment system.The airline is also collaborating with international organisations to train and better equip its ground and cargo staff to detect and deal with illegal wildlife products in transit. As the required paperwork for movement of some wildlife products is often forged, Emirates also made the decision to ban trophy shipments.Dnata, air services provider and a member of the Emirates Group, is also raising awareness through its dnata4good initiative. dnata4good has already been working with local charity organisations and authorities to save the Rhinos in South Africa.Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said: “Emirates believes that the global transport industry, including airlines, can play a significant role to break the supply chain of illegal wildlife trade. And at Emirates, we are committing the resources to do our part.”The Rt Hon The Lord Hague of Richmond, chair of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce said: “We welcome the efforts and commitment made by Emirates airline to combat the illegal wildlife trade. [...] It will take a concerted effort, involving not only effective deterrents against poaching and smuggling, and vigilance in policing and punishing these crimes, but also efforts to increase consumer education to cut demand to protect these animals for the future.”