Qatar Airways Cargo recently flew lions to their natural habitat for free in support of the NGO Warriors of Wildlife (WOW).

In a statement, the cargo carrier said it took six months of preparation and the involvement of "no less than a dozen departments" and over 50 employees to ensure a successful operation.

"On Thursday, April 29, the Kouga and Swinburne nature reserves in South Africa welcomed three lions, one lioness and three cubs. This involved a three-day trip from Kiev to Doha and Johannesburg so that the lions could walk on grass for the first time in their lives," Qatar Cargo said.

It noted that transporting wild animals back to their natural environment for free at the request of wildlife protection bodies is a promise made by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of its "Rewild the Planet" initiative — part of the airline’s WeQare sustainability program.

Transporting wild animals requires close cooperation between the specific services involved within Qatar Airways Cargo and the NGO staff. The NGO staff looks after the animals’ well-being during the entire journey.

Meanwhile, handlers from the Qatar Airways Cargo's Live Animals facility are present at every stage. 

"This is something for us all to be proud of. Whether it’s our staff who fully support our wish to give back to communities, or those who have contributed their expertise and enthusiasm, we are extremely proud to be able to do our bit towards a fairer future," said Guillaume Halleux, chief officer Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways Cargo noted that it has pledged to continue this program so that transport costs of logistics will never prevent NGOs from doing their respective missions.