Watch as comfort llamas with 'I love PDX' blankets greet travelers at Portland airport

After a long flight or as pre-travel nerves are getting the best of you, comfort is just what some passengers need.

Tourists and Oregon locals arriving at Portland International Airport on July 11 were greeted by emotional support llamas . Two llamas wearing blankets that read "I love PDX" were spotted at with the purpose of helping anxious travelers.

Video shows the animals roaming the airport alongside staff. The airport's official Instagram page shared footage of several guests rejoicing as they interact with the llamas.

"It’s hard 'work' but some llamas gotta do it," the page wrote in the caption.

Watch Portland's therapeutic llamas at work here

PDX officials regularly bring llamas and alpacas a couple of times a month as part of the airport’s pet therapy program, spokesperson Allison Ferre told USA TODAY. The animals are also visited for various events at local concessions across the summer and holiday seasons.

“The llamas and alpacas visit PDX to soothe and delight travelers,” Ferre said. “It’s a uniquely PDX way to spread joy to travelers.”

Little research on emotional support llamas

There is quite limited research on the therapeutic benefits of being around llamas.

In a 2006 study, a Virginia occupational therapist Mona Sams said her eight llamas and five alpacas were beneficial for those with developmental disabilities. Her research found llamas-assisted therapy helped autistic children improve their language and social skills more than traditional occupational therapy, Advisory Board reported.

Western Carolina University professor and anthozoologist Hal Herzog, said animal-assisted therapy, including with llamas, can ease stress levels but the clarified the effects are primarily short-term compared to other forms of therapy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch as comfort llamas with 'I love PDX' blankets greet travelers at Portland airport