Intradco relocates four African penguins to Maui

Intradco Global has successfully transported four critically endangered African penguins from Virginia to their new home at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, completing a highly complex and time-critical operation within a strict 36-hour welfare window.

Although the move was technically a domestic shipment within the United States, the routing and welfare requirements made it one of the most challenging projects handled by the company that year. A private charter was necessary to meet the 36-hour timeframe from departure in Virginia to arrival in Hawaii. Any delay could have affected the penguins’ wellbeing.

Scheduled flights continued to change during the planning phase, forcing the team to revisit routing options several times. The process took nearly two months of problem-solving, negotiation and re-planning before a reliable solution was secured.

Gabriela Astaiza Bedoya, Project Lead, said the operation required a journey that respected the penguins’ biological needs, met regulatory requirements and adapted to a shifting aviation landscape while keeping all stakeholders aligned.

The relocation was carried out in support of the Zoological Association of America African Penguin Management Program, in which the Hyatt Regency Maui participates. The programme works to support the sustainability and genetic diversity of the species in managed care. The necessary permissions allowed Intradco Global to manage the move, but every stage had to be executed with full regulatory compliance.

From the outset, the company acted as a link between the sending zoo, the receiving facility, airlines, ground handlers and government authorities to ensure coordination and compliance.

Povi Carisa-Abney, Wildlife Supervisor at Hyatt Regency Maui, said several operators had initially declined to handle the relocation. She said Intradco Global maintained weekly communication, worked closely with state officials and the transporting zoo, and created detailed checklists to ensure every rule was followed while prioritising the penguins’ safety.

The Intradco Global team met the penguins at each stage of their journey and provided continuous updates to all parties involved. The four penguins arrived safely in Maui and integrated with the existing colony at the resort.

Carisa-Abney said the project carried significant emotional importance for the Lahaina community, which is recovering from a devastating wildfire two years ago. She said the safe arrival of the penguins was very important for the community.

Dennis Christen, Global Product Manager – Wildlife, Zoological & Marine at Intradco Global, said the project required both creativity and care, with the transport plan designed around the welfare of the animals and the needs of the client.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2024. The species, which breeds along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, has experienced a population decline of nearly 80 per cent over the past 30 years. Fewer than 19,800 mature birds remain, representing less than five per cent of pre-industrial numbers.

Some colonies have seen sharp declines. Around Cape Town, numbers have fallen by 95 per cent in a decade. Dassen and Robben Islands, which once supported more than 300,000 breeding pairs, now have about 3,000. Researchers attribute much of the decline to overfishing and climate-driven shifts in prey distribution, and warn that the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild without urgent action.

Charlie McMullen, CEO of Intradco Global, said the project reflected the company’s collaborative approach and focus on animal welfare, adding that its experience allowed it to deliver the penguins safely to their new home.