Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Newport Aquarium joined forces last week to conduct comprehensive health examinations on the Aquarium’s 14 female cownose stingrays. Multiple steps are required to evaluate each ray, with staff members from both organizations working together to maximize the operation's efficiency and minimize the time that the animals were confined to a smaller space. The procedure was divided into three stations, with animals receiving anesthesia, body measurements and their microchip number at one station, ultrasounds and blood work at the second station and weights taken at the third station.Video above: Video gives first look at progress of massive elephant habitat coming to Cincinnati Zoo"We were able to assist the Aquarium’s animal health team with handling, record keeping, microchip scanning, blood collection, and ultrasounds,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal health, Dr. Mike Wenninger."Newport Aquarium’s veterinarian, Dr. Hali Jungers, talked about the importance of preventative medicine and the importance of these routine screenings."It meant a lot to have the team from the Zoo here to help us with the effort, and we loved providing them with the opportunity to handle and work with a species that is different than what they work with day to day."