From antelope to art: The most unusual DHL deliveries of 2025

• Not your ordinary parcels – DHL looks at the five most unusual deliveries around the world in 2025

• The shipments range from 17 antelope, a rescued baboon, 37 tons of artwork, and a helmet signed by Michael Schumacher that same year.

Parcels, aircraft loads and packed shipping containers are what people typically associate with DHL Group, the world’s leading logistics provider. However, this is only scratching the surface of what the company offers throughout the year. Here are just five of the most exceptional shipments handled by the global market leader in logistics in 2025.

USA to Kenya – Rare antelopes return to their homeland

13,000 kilometers to survive: In February 2025, DHL transported 17 mountain bongo antelope from the Conservation Center in Loxahatchee, Florida, to a wildlife reserve on the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak. These animals are descendants of mountain bongos that were transported from Kenya in the 1970s. Today, after decades of poaching, habitat loss, and forest degradation, these species are critically endangered, with fewer than 100 remaining in the wild. To ensure the Florida bongos’ safety and comfort during their journey, DHL provided a customized flight equipped with specially designed boxes provided by the wildlife conservation organisation. The animals received constant care from a veterinarian and two bongo specialists. Their new haven provides a safe environment where they can breed and thrive. Their descendants will one day return to the wild, reclaiming the forests of Mount Kenya as their natural habitat.

Long-travel helmet meets Michael Schumacher

From Switzerland to Brazil, a helmet like no other sets off on a transcontinental tour in March 2025. On its journey, the helmet has been signed by all 20 living Formula 1® world champions, becoming a unique piece of motorsport history. One signature was particularly poignant: that of Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion who has withdrawn from public life since a serious skiing accident in 2013. His wife Corinna helped guide his hand to write his initials “MS” on the helmet – a gesture that resonated deeply with fans around the world. A replica of the helmet was later offered as a raffle prize to help fund the Race Against Dementia charity. Founded by three-time Formula 1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart, the organization funds research into the prevention and treatment of dementia – a cause close to his heart following his wife’s diagnosis. Under tight security measures, DHL transported the helmet from Switzerland to the homes of several champions so they could add their signatures. The route included stops in Ibiza, Spain, London, UK, and Brasilia, Brazil.

151 bear sculpture on a voyage from Germany to Singapore

When art goes on tour: In June 2025, 151 life-sized bear sculptures set out on a journey of about 10,000 kilometers from Wustermark near Berlin to Singapore. Each sculpture is made of weather-resistant fiberglass and measures approximately two meters tall. This colorful art project, known as the United Buddy Bears, was launched in Berlin in 2002 to spread the message of peace and tolerance. Each bear is drawn by an artist from a different country, symbolizing that nation’s culture and identity. DHL supervised the safe transportation of these valuable works of art. The weight of the shipment was 37 tons, and it was packed into eight sea containers, loaded by crane onto trucks, and transported to the port of Hamburg. From there, the bears began their cruise to Singapore, where they were on display for two months, continuing their mission of promoting international understanding.

Saving Saadoun – a baby baboon moves from the Middle East to East Africa

An unusual passenger boarded a DHL flight from Bahrain to Djibouti, East Africa, in November 2025 – Saadoun, a young baboon. He was found abandoned and in critical condition in Bahrain in 2024, when he was just three months old, in a country where baboons are not native. Saadoun was a victim of the illegal wildlife trade. After more than a year of intensive care by an animal welfare organization, he needed an environment suitable for his species. The climate and ecosystem of Djibouti offers just that. DHL transported Saadoun from Muharraq in Bahrain to Djibouti Airport, where he was transferred to a specialized shelter near Djibouti City. Dedicated crates, veterinary oversight and an accompanying animal care representative reduce stress during the trip. Sadoun now lives in a sanctuary designed specifically to meet his needs, sharing a new home with a female baboon, which is essential for the social bonding of these intelligent primates. His new surroundings give him a chance to adapt and, hopefully, one day live freely.

Paraguay to Peru – the iconic South American Football Cup is on the way

In November 2025, DHL delivered the iconic trophy for the CONMEBOL Libertadores Final, the most prestigious clash between South American football clubs. The journey began at CONMEBOL’s headquarters in Loque, Paraguay, and ended in Lima, Peru, where the decisive match was played on 29 November. CONMEBOL Libertadores, along with the UEFA Champions League, brings together the best clubs from across South America, each seeking the ultimate prize and the privilege of representing the continent in the FIFA Club World Cup. Known for its exciting atmosphere and passionate fans, the final is a marquee sporting event watched by millions around the world. As the official logistics partner of the South American Football Confederation, DHL ensured the safe and timely arrival of the trophy. Measuring approximately one meter in height, it was transported in a custom metal case with a special safety lock and was handled exclusively with gloves to preserve its flawless shine. The trophy, even sealed inside the box, generated excitement – ​​fans who saw it often gathered to take photos and share the moment. This year, Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro won the title after a memorable all-Brazilian encounter against Palmeiras from Sao Paulo.