Day 9
Welcome, Nandi!
2:30 a.m.
Before departing the Aquarium on day 8, the Atlanta team was prepared to depart for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 9:45 a.m. But at 2:45 a.m., the phone tree went into effect. The South African team contacted the lead for the Atlanta team to let them know that the plane would in fact be arriving about 2 hours earlier. Everyone involved in the Atlanta arrival was woken up and given the new time. Alarm clocks were reset, and heads hit pillows again to try and squeeze in a few more hours before the big arrival.
While the Atlanta team is awaiting Nandi’s arrival at the Atlanta airport, the phone rings. The arrival has been pushed back 2 hours, meaning an estimated landing time of 10:15 a.m. The plane didn’t pick up as much time in the air as the crew anticipated, so we are back to the original schedule. Now the team just waits for the wheels to touch down.
The plane finally lands! Everyone is anxious to see how Nandi is doing after her 9,000 mile flight and to get her to the Aquarium ASAP. She is alert and normal. Now it’s just a matter of getting her off the plane and onto the truck.
11:30 a.m.
Nandi is ready to go! The Atlanta Police Department jumps on motorcycles and leads the Aquarium team and Nandi out of the airport and onto I-85 toward downtown. APD scatters and flies down the interstate, clearing the HOV lane and blocking traffic at oncoming ramps so we can deliver the first manta ever in a U.S aquarium. It looks like something from an action movie, only amping up the excitement of what we are doing.
One of the coolest things to see is how pedestrians wave and point as the large container with the Aquarium logo goes passing by. They know that something special is inside, but they don’t know what! But in just a few days, they will share in the excitement and wonder that is Nandi, the manta ray.
After Nandi arrives at the Aquarium, the team readies her to be moved into the holding pool, next to the Ocean Voyager exhibit, built by The Home Depot. As she is lifted from her transport container, 40 feet into the air, everyone waits with heavy anticipation and eagerness to see what Nandi will do when she finds the water. After a few seconds that felt like several minutes, everyone erupts in applause. The way that her beautiful shape cuts through the water is mesmerizing.
The team takes a break to celebrate Nandi’s arrival. Dr. Tim Mullican, vice president of veterinary services and husbandry, celebrated his 50th birthday the day before Nandi’s arrival. The Atlanta team prepared a special surprise for him and Nandi - a huge cake in the shape of a manta ray! And then the attention turns back to Nandi. All signs are encouraging, and now we just wait to introduce her to the world.
The team assembles at 7:30 a.m. for an update on Nandi’s arrival.
The team waits to go onto the tarmac after hearing about the 2-hour delay.
The plane carrying Nandi and the crew touches down in Atlanta.
The team moves Nandi to the truck, preparing to take her to Georgia Aquarium.
Getting Nandi down busy I-85 was much smoother with a police escort.
Nandi approaches her new home.
An Aquarium team member guides the truck into the loading dock.
The team pitches in to move Nandi’s container off the truck and into position.
Nandi is lifted 40 feet into the air on her way to the exhibit.
The team detaches the stretcher and guides Nandi into the exhibit.
After a few suspenseful seconds, the entire team celebrates Nandi’s arrival.
Jerry Ntombela stands by as Nandi navigates her new home.
Nandi is the first manta ray to ever be in a U.S. aquarium.
To celebrate Dr. Tim Mullican’s birthday and Nandi’s arrival, the team celebrated with a cake in Nandi’s likeness.
