Riding and shaping the wave of change in Wildlife, Zoological, and Marine
By Dennis Christen, Global Product Manager for Wildlife, Zoological, and Marine.
Joining as Global Product Manager for Wildlife, Zoological, and Marine Logistics represents a deeply logical progression. I reflect, one month into my new project.
Who?
I have been known within the industry as someone who thrives on solving complex challenges and navigating dynamic logistics. With my 35 year career committed to animal welfare I bring these perspectives into an organisation that is redefining what animal logistics means.
As a decision-maker on the client side of many animal transports, I understand from first-hand experience the stresses, responsibilities, and requirements that zoological teams face. This insider perspective guides my efforts at Intradco Global, where I prioritise exceptional animal care and pursue innovative solutions, in collaboration with our partners.
My role is not simply about moving animals safely from one point to another. It is about bridging two worlds, practical animal welfare and cutting-edge logistics innovation, into a unified, welfare-first approach that allows conservation institutions to trust that every move which we assist them with serves their mission.
Where?
My first month with Intradco Global has been both energising and affirming. Having spent much of my career on the zoological side of animal care and transport, stepping into this role has shown me just how creative and innovative the Intradco Global team is and how that serves a welfare-first mindset that is so important to our clients and partners.
Stepping into this role has shown me how creative and innovative the Intradco team is. Their approach embodies a welfare-first mindset supported by logistical expertise and a genuine passion for animals. The experience has convinced me that we are building more than efficient transport models, we are creating the framework for conservation success.
It’s been exciting to see how innovation, logistics expertise, and genuine passion for animals come together here, and I look forward to building on this foundation to help our wildlife care partners achieve even greater conservation outcomes.
Why?
In the early 2000s, animal moves were frequently hampered by limited options, fragmented communication, and an absence of shared visibility. Today, expectations are very different. Real-time visibility and transparent data flows are no longer luxuries but non-negotiable requirements. Zoological partners need constant reassurance that their animals’ welfare is prioritised, monitored, and accounted for at every stage of the journey.
At the heart of welfare is always human expertise. Animal care is not just about enclosures or aircraft; it is about people, animal care staff, veterinarians, and logistics staff, working seamlessly together. Coordination must extend well beyond the day of transport to the months of planning and the follow-up support that ensures animals settle successfully into their new environment.
The industry has matured in crate and unit load device design. A crate should never be regarded as a simple container. It is a mobile habitat, a temporary extension of the home environment, designed to provide safety, comfort, and species-specific needs. Intradco has distinguished itself as a leader in this area, rethinking crate engineering as welfare-driven design.
What?
Aircraft choice is crucial, whether widebodies for scale or narrow-bodies for regional hops, ensuring efficiency and welfare. Success also depends on synergy across the supply chain, built on both trust and logistics expertise. Finally, establishing global standards that transcend regulatory and cultural differences has become vital. Conservation institutions expect a universal welfare-first approach, and Intradco is positioned to define it.
Aircraft utilisation also plays a central role. The strategic deployment of different aircraft types, from the scale offered by 747 freighters to narrow-body solutions for regional movements, has implications for both efficiency and animal welfare. Having a playbook that matches species groups to optimal aircraft types, routes, and stopover strategies is a genuine competitive edge.
“Our work is to facilitate the movement of new genetics into zoological populations, strengthening conservation programmes worldwide.” Charlie McMullen, CEO
The next phase will be shaped by predictive technology. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will help anticipate risks, optimise routes, and manage animal-specific needs in real time. Intradco is investing in this frontier, making animal logistics not only reliable but proactive and resilient. By blending zoological insight with logistics expertise, we aim to be the trusted partner for institutions worldwide, enabling not just moves but conservation success.
Equally vital is synergy across the supply chain. No animal movement succeeds without alignment between partners at origin, en route, and destination. This alignment depends as much on trust and relationships as it does on logistics technology. In an increasingly globalised industry, the ability to establish consistent standards that transcend cultural, regulatory, and geographic differences is essential. Zoological and conservation partners expect a universal, welfare-first framework, and Intradco is uniquely positioned to define it.
Next?
Looking forward, animal logistics will be reshaped by predictive technologies, as highlighted by Intradco Global CEO Charlie McMullen, in his recent article with Air Cargo Week. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will play an increasing role in anticipating risks, optimising routes, and identifying animal-specific needs in real time. This is not about replacing the human touch but enhancing it, providing teams with tools that allow them to be proactive rather than merely reactive.
Intradco’s investment is directed precisely toward this evolution: making animal logistics not just reliable, but predictive, resilient, and welfare-led. The next phase will build upon the lessons of zoological science and the airfreight sector, positioning Intradco as both an innovator and a trusted partner for wildlife and zoological animal transport.
For Intradco, the mission extends far beyond the mechanics of transport. It is about enabling conservation outcomes through logistics excellence. It is about demonstrating that thoughtful, carefully engineered moves can directly support biodiversity, breeding programmes, and the broader goals of zoological institutions worldwide.
I look forward to strengthening this foundation, expanding innovation, and ensuring that every zoological partner who entrusts us with their animals experiences not just a successful move, but a meaningful step forward in their conservation mission.
