DHL

Rescued by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, SeaWorld San Antonio, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas State Aquarium, Texas Parks and Wildlife.

While this is only the third manatee SeaWorld San Antonio has ever rehabilitated, SeaWorld Orlando has an extensive history of helping manatees in need. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 81 billion euros in 2021. To make this move possible, DHL Express transported the manatee in a custom, state-of-the-art container built specifically to hold manatees and according to the requirements of the International Animal Transport Association (IATA) – the regulatory group overseeing all animal transport over land, air or sea. Following a successful transport from Texas to Florida, the manatee arrived at SeaWorld Orlando for a 48-hour observation period to ensure its health had not been impacted by the travel. SeaWorld veterinarians were also the first to put a cast on an injured manatee. The manatee was tagged for a Dauphin Island Sea Lab project investigating manatee habitat use and distribution in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. ORLANDO, Fla. and CINCINNATI, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld and DHL Express today announced that they have joined forces to transport a manatee from Texas to Florida via air after successfully being rehabilitated for eight months at SeaWorld San Antonio. The manatee was rescued in December 2021 by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, SeaWorld San Antonio, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas State Aquarium, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas authorities and transported to SeaWorld San Antonio for rehabilitation. To keep the body moist, the manatee was misted with water under its blankets throughout the flight. Due to the size and delicate nature of manatee air transports, it can be difficult to find adequate transportation. As the manatee population continues to decline as a result of an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event (UME) on the Atlantic Coast, the collaboration of dedicated partners across the nation is necessary to protect and preserve this critical species. Steve Aibel, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Antonio said they're always ready to help manatees in need when necessary.