Moving a living creature by air is one of the most responsibility-heavy things we do. An animal can’t tell you if it’s stressed, overheated, or struggling, you have to anticipate its needs, plan for them, and make sure every stage of the journey is as safe and comfortable as the circumstances allow. That’s not just good practice, it’s what IATA’s Live Animals Regulations require, and it’s what we hold ourselves to on every live animal shipment.
We’ve handled a wide range of live animal consignments through Entebbe, pets travelling with relocating families, livestock being exported for breeding programmes, wildlife moving between conservation facilities. Each type of animal has its own requirements under the LAR, and our team knows those requirements and applies them.
Before we accept a live animal shipment, we check the container. It has to meet IATA container requirements for the species, the right size, the right ventilation, the right construction, with food and water provisions appropriate for the journey duration. We check the health certificates and any CITES permits required for the species. We check the airline’s specific acceptance conditions, because some animals can only travel under specific circumstances or on specific aircraft types.
We also think about the timing. Live animals shouldn’t be sitting in a cargo facility any longer than necessary, and they shouldn’t be travelling on connections with long layovers unless there’s no alternative. We plan the routing with the animal’s welfare in mind, not just the logistics.
If you’re planning to move live animals through Entebbe, whether it’s a single pet or a large commercial consignment — contact us well in advance. The documentation requirements and booking process take time to get right, and the earlier we start, the smoother the whole thing goes.