Four rescued manatees, three from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and one from Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, began their journeys to rehabilitation facilities in Florida on October 12, in part via DHL Express.
The effort brings them another step closer to their anticipated release into their native Florida waters this winter. All four have since arrived safely at their respective destinations.
As part of the same coordinated effort, six additional rescued manatees arrived in Ohio on October 14, with three welcomed at the Columbus Zoo and three at the Cincinnati Zoo for continued rehabilitation.
Transporting the manatees required careful coordination among animal care, veterinary and transportation teams. DHL Express provided air transportation between its global hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Orlando, Florida, while specially equipped trucks operated by the participating zoos and SeaWorld handled ground transportation. Members of the Columbus Zoo’s Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams accompanied the manatees on both DHL Express flights, monitoring their health, comfort, and wellbeing throughout the journeys.
Given the size and weight of the transport crates, DHL Express used a specialized loading plan to secure them for flight and ensure proper weight and balance for the safety of the manatees and crew. The crates also required specialized forklift equipment for handling.
The manatees traveled in custom-built containers designed to support their safety and comfort. Each container included an 8-inch-thick bed of foam to support each manatee’s body. Care teams used wool and space blankets to help maintain appropriate body temperatures, using laser thermometers, and regularly misted the manatees with water beneath their blankets to keep their skin moist throughout the journeys.
“Having supported multiple manatee transports, we understand how important safe, carefully coordinated journeys are to these remarkable animals’ recovery and continued rehabilitation as they move closer to returning to the wild,” said Laurice Bancroft, SVP network operations, DHL Express Americas. “We’re proud to bring our global network and logistics expertise to this effort and work alongside our conservation partners to help ensure these manatees receive the care they need every step of the way.”
The recent transfers were coordinated among participating organizations, including the Columbus Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, SeaWorld Orlando, East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) at Brevard Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and transportation partner DHL Express.
