156 dogs and 133 cats rescued from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, were transported by the giant Russian freighter Ilyushin IL-76 to Canada. The pets, the majority of whom were unable to flee with their guardians from the conflicts in the region (after the departure of American troops from the Afghan country in August last year), were rescued and reunited in Turkey.
The current dramatic situation in Kabul has also affected a large number of pets. Dozens of cats and dogs have been abandoned at the Afghan capital’s airport, amid one of the saddest chapters in recent history. Fortunately, the transport mission carried out showed a lot of support and international cooperation.
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The animals’ overland journey to the Turkish city of Istanbul was carried out with complicated logistics, which received several donations in order to be able to carry it out. From there, properly housed dogs and cats on the Russian freighter flew to Vancouver, on a flight that made a few stops along the way.
During the flight, several veterinarians accompanied the animals to ensure their good health, and no abnormalities were reported. The arrival of the animals at the Canadian airport has been recorded. To verify:
According to the website Aeroin, the original plan was to send the animals to the United States, where most of the owners are. However, pets are prohibited from entering the country from virtually anywhere else due to fear of disease. Thus, dogs and cats are screened in Canada and will be somewhat quarantined at the airport, before being sent for adoption or to their owners.
The IL-76, developed by the Ilyushin Aircraft Company (part of United Aircraft Corporation/UAC, which is part of Russian Rostec), has been around for a long time, in different modifications. According to the website Self-evolutionin 2021, the freighter was ranked among the six most popular military transport aircraft.
The Russian news agency (TASS) reports that more than 200 IL-76s operated last year, representing 5% of the world’s military transport fleet (the American C-130 Hercules was at the top of the ranking). Its most recent modification is the IL-76MD-90A, an updated version which has more powerful engines (also supposed to be quieter), new wings, reinforced landing gear, as well as avionics and updated cockpits.
This sturdy and heavy transport aircraft can transport personnel, equipment, supplies and fuel anywhere in the world, even in the arctic region. The freighter is a great symbol of the Soviet era, owning an unmistakable design, with several windows in the lower part of the cabin, referring to its alternative use as a bomber.
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