LATAM Cargo Group, working with logistics specialist SPARX Logistics, has completed the relocation of a southern white rhinoceros born in Chile, to São Paulo, Brazil, as part of an international conservation and breeding programme.

The five-year-old rhinoceros named Atanasio, weighing close to two tonnes, was transported in early December 2025 following months of preparation to ensure his welfare throughout the journey.

Born at Buinzoo Biopark in 2020, Atanasio is the first rhinoceros born during the pandemic and one of only three southern white rhinoceroses born under professional care in Latin America.

SPARX Logistics led more than a year of planning for the operation, overseeing documentation, regulatory processes and the design of a custom transport container. A specialist accompanied Atanasio throughout the flight to support his wellbeing and adaptation.

“Our goal was to guarantee optimal conditions in a custom-designed container, planning each stage well in advance to prevent stress,” said Juan Manuel Rojas, global chief executive of SPARX Logistics. “This relocation reflects our shared commitment to preserving the species and delivering the highest level of care.”

LATAM Cargo coordinated multiple internal teams to meet international live-animal transport standards.

“Transporting an animal of this size requires rigorous planning and close collaboration,” said Juan Pablo Márquez, senior operations manager for South America at LATAM Cargo Group. “We are proud to support initiatives that contribute to species conservation.”

Buinzoo Biopark director Ignacio Idalsoaga said the move strengthens long-term regional conservation efforts, noting that only around 20,000 southern white rhinoceroses remain worldwide.

The relocation marks the third international transport of this rhinoceros family supported by LATAM Cargo Group and reinforces South America’s collaborative approach to wildlife conservation.

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