Alaska's Lone Pachedyrm, Maggie the Elephant, Flown 3,100 Miles Aboard Military Aircraft

Maggie the Elephant, Alaska's lone elephant for 25 years, can now be raised in a warmer client with friends thanks to the United States Air Force. Maggie was transported from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, to Travis Air Force Base, California aboard a C-17.

No other cargo planes were able to transport the elephant, which was lonely and needed to be in a warmer climate. She was also suffering from a number of health problems. The Performing Animal Welfare Sanctuary (PAWS) offered the Air Force $200,000 to complete the transport, codenamed Operation Maggie Migration. Maggie, an African elephant will slowly be introduced to four other African elephants in the sanctuary's San Andreas grounds.

"When we first found out about Operation Maggie Migration, we said, 'How do we do this?' It is wonderful to see how Elmendorf, PAWS, Travis and all other organizations involved along the way, came together," said John "Buck" Buchanan, 60th Aerial Port Squadron. "We're proud and happy to have her come through Team Travis. This is precious cargo, a national treasure for us."

C-17 crewmembers helped load Maggie into a 10-foot high, 10,000-pound crate specially designed for the elephant. According to a PAWS representative, the crate did not allow Maggie to turn around but had sufficient room to allow her to sway comfortably. The crate was rolled onto the aircraft before the 3,100 mile trip. The flight took approximately five hours to complete. The trip from Travis to the sanctuary takes approximately 2 hours.

"Operation Maggie Migration is a great demonstration of the flexibility of not just the capabilities of the C-17, but of the Air Forces total force," said Col. GI Tuck, 60th Air Mobility Wing acting commander. "It has been an honor for the Air Force to be part of such a unique operation."

Maggie isn't the first large animal to be transported by the C-17. Keiko, an Orca whale that was featured in the "Free Willy" movies, was transported from the Oregon coast to Iceland back in September 1998. In Iceland, Keiko was released back into the wild. Keiko died in 2003 due to complications from pneumonia.

The C-17A is the Air Force's newest transport aircraft. It is able to carry 170,000 pounds of cargo and land on a 2,000-foot runway. Currently the C-17, built by Boeing, has four active duty Air Force bases. Several models have been built for other countries such as Australia and England.

SOURCE:

Travis Air Force Base Public Affairs

URL:

http://public.travis.amc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123074411