The logistics provider DHL handled a series of unusual shipments across multiple continents during 2025, according to a report from Air Cargo News. The shipments ranged from wildlife conservation efforts to motorsport memorabilia and large-scale art.
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Critically Endangered Antelopes Return to Kenya
DHL transported 17 mountain bongo antelopes from a conservation centre in Loxahatchee, Florida, to a wildlife sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Kenya. The animals are descendants of mountain bongos relocated from Kenya in the 1970s. After decades of poaching, habitat loss, and forest degradation, the species is critically endangered, with fewer than 100 surviving in the wild.
The company provided a dedicated flight equipped with custom-built crates for the journey. “The animals received continuous care from a veterinarian and two bongo specialists,” DHL said. “Their new sanctuary offers a secure environment where they can breed and thrive. Their offspring will one day return to the wild, reclaiming Mount Kenyas forests as their natural home.”
Helmet Signed by F1 Champions Travels the Globe
In another mission, DHL transported a racing driver’s helmet signed by all 20 living Formula 1 world champions from Switzerland to Brazil. The helmet was transported to the homes of multiple champions for signatures, with stops in Ibiza, Spain; London, UK; and Brasilia, Brazil.
“One signature was particularly moving: Michael Schumacher’s, the seven-time world champion who has withdrawn from public life since his severe skiing accident in 2013. His wife, Corinna, helped guide his hand to write his initials, MS, on the helmet – a gesture that resonated deeply with fans around the world,” DHL said. A replica was later featured as a raffle prize for the “Race Against Dementia” charity.
37 Tons of Bear Sculptures Voyage to Singapore
In June 2025, DHL shipped 151 life-sized bear sculptures about 10,000 km from Wustermark near Berlin to Singapore. Each fibreglass sculpture stands about two metres tall. Weighing 37 tons total, the shipment was packed into eight sea containers and transported via truck and sea from the Port of Hamburg. The United Buddy Bears, painted by artists from different countries, were displayed in Singapore for two months to promote international understanding.
Rescued Baboon Flown to Refuge
In November, DHL flew a young male baboon named Saadoon from Bahrain to Djibouti in East Africa. Saadoon was found abandoned and in critical condition in Bahrain in 2024 and, after more than a year of intensive care, needed a species-suited environment. He was flown from Muharraq to Djibouti airport with custom boxes, veterinary oversight, and an animal welfare representative, before transfer to a specialised refuge.
Prestigious Football Trophy Delivered for Final
Also in November, DHL delivered the CONMEBOL Libertadores trophy from Luque, Paraguay, to Lima, Peru, for the final held on November 29. The roughly one-metre-tall trophy travelled in a custom metallic case with a special security lock and was handled exclusively with gloves. Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro claimed the trophy after a match against Palmeiras of Sao Paulo.
