Bottlenose dolphins ride plane from Japan to China

A cargo aircraft carrying seven bottlenose dolphins from Osaka, Japan flew into Shijiazhuang airport in Hebei province on March 6, marking the first time that Hebei has successfully transported marine mammals by air.

Staff from the Hebei Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau carried out a strict examination of the dolphins, ensuring that they were in good health and not carrying any diseases or parasites. A nuclear radiation test was also done to check for any radioactive contamination.

After the inspection, one male and one female dolphin were transported into Shijiazhuang. The rest were taken to Nanchang Airport in eastern China's Jiangxi province.