Watch: Four manatees fly from SeaWorld to Cincinnati in custom containers

Last Saturday, four rescued manatees experienced life in the water and the air as they landed at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport after a flight from Orlando.

After arriving in Cincinnati, the manatees–Lizzo, Cardi-Tee, MaryKate and Ashley–were loaded onto trucks and transported to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, where they will begin the next phase in their rehabilitation.

The manatees were moved to Columbus to make additional room for rescued manatees in need of emergency critical care at SeaWorld's Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

DHL, which donated the transportation network, created custom-built containers for the manatees during the flight from Orlando and drive to Columbus. A Columbus Zoo staff veterinarian and animal care curator was also on the flight, monitoring the manatees’ condition.

During their trip, the manatees were placed in containers made of high-density foam that kept them light and insulated. The containers were secured on palettes attached to the floor for stability. They were monitored with laser thermometers and covered in wool and space blankets to maintain a healthy body temperature.

To keep their bodies moist during the flight, the manatees were misted with water under the blankets.

Now that the manatees are in Columbus, they have joined five others currently part of the zoo’s manatee rehabilitation program. With nine manatees total, it’s the most ever housed there at one time, according to a press release.

They will remain in Columbus until they gain enough weight to return to Florida.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Watch: Manatees fly from SeaWorld Orlando to Cincinnati