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Winter (dolphin)

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Winter
Winter swimming without her tail
SpeciesTursiops truncatus
Bornc. October 2005
Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 2021 (2021-11-12) (aged 16)
Clearwater, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeAshes released in Gulf of Mexico
Notable roleHerself in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2
Years active2005–2021
Known forProsthetic tail
OwnerClearwater Marine Aquarium
www.cmaquarium.org/animals/dolphins/winter/

Winter (c. October 2005 – November 11, 2021) was a bottlenose dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, United States, and was widely known for having a prosthetic tail. Winter was the subject of the 2009 book Winter's Tale, the 2011 film Dolphin Tale, and its 2014 sequel.

Winter was found in the coastal waters of Florida on December 10, 2005. At the time, she was just a young dolphin around two months old. She had become entangled in a crab trap line, which was cutting into and deforming her peduncle and tail flukes. Despite rescue efforts by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and being transported to[1]Clearwater Marine Aquarium, her injuries were too severe and the majority of her tail was lost to necrosis.[1][2] The loss of her tail caused Winter to swim unnaturally with her tail moving side to side instead of up and down. The team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium made intensive efforts to accommodate Winter and give her a good quality of life. A major breakthrough came when they partnered Hanger Clinic, a provider for prosthetics, and created the first-ever functional prosthetic tail for a dolphin. Winter's new tail was used primarily for physical therapy and allowed her to swim with the same speed, flexibility and maneuverability as a dolphin with a biological fluke.[3]

Winter became a highly popular attraction at the aquarium. She was first introduced to a dolphin named Panama and later lived with two other dolphins, Hope and PJ.

Discovery and treatment

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Winter in 2011
Winter's prosthetic tail

Winter was found in the ropes of a crab trap on December 10, 2005[4] in Mosquito Lagoon of the coastal waters of Florida.[5] At the time of her rescue, she was estimated to be about two months old.[6]

Winter received her name because she was found in December, traditionally considered a winter month, even though the exact date of her rescue falls within the American definition of autumn.[7] The rope in which Winter was entangled cut off the supply of blood to her tail, leading to necrosis and her tail's disintegration.[1][2]

Irish prosthetist Kevin Carroll and a team of experts took a year and a half designing and testing a tail for Winter, eventually settling on a simple silicone and plastic tail in 2007.[8] A gel-like sleeve was used under the tail in order to prevent it from irritating Winter's skin. However, Winter's flukes and peduncle had been severed, making the task much more difficult.[9]

Knowledge gleaned from treating Winter was applied to human amputees, as when Carroll used the same gel sleeve concept to ease painful prosthetic limbs for United States Air Force senior airman Brian Kolfage, who lost both legs and his right hand in a 2004 mortar attack in Iraq.[5][10]

Public recognition

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Winter became the most popular attraction at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was viewed as an inspiration to people with disabilities.[5] Brock Mealer (brother of Michigan Wolverines player Eliot Mealer), who was paralyzed in a car accident, met Winter in December 2010.[11] The event attracted significant press coverage.[11] Books and Nintendo games have been published about Winter.[12][13]

In 2009, Winter's story was told by Craig Hatkoff in a children's book titled Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again.[14] The book was published by Turtle Pond Publications and Scholastic.[14] Hatkoff's short book was adapted into an interactive storybook on the Nintendo DS, under the same title.[15]

A film based on Winter's story, titled Dolphin Tale, was released September 23, 2011.[16] Winter portrayed herself in the film.[17] The film depicted Winter's rescue and the pioneering of her prosthetic tail. Several modifications were made to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to accommodate her, including a new 80,000-gallon pool.[17] The film was shot at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and other locations in Pinellas County, Florida.[18]

A sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, was released in theaters on September 12, 2014, and introduced Hope, the dolphin who lived with Winter.[19]

Death

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On November 7, 2021, Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced early tests that indicated Winter was showing signs of a gastrointestinal infection.[20] The aquarium announced on November 10 that Winter's condition was critical.[21][22] During preparation for an exploratory surgery on November 11, at approximately 8:00pm local time, Winter died at the age of 16.[23] Her remains were cremated and her ashes were later released into the Gulf of Mexico on January 13, 2022.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Winter's Tale: Read the original series about the famous Clearwater dolphin". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Block, Melissa (September 26, 2006). "Researchers Hope to Give Dolphin Prosthetic Tail". NPR. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Winter the Dolphin". Clearwater Marine Aquarium. November 14, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Block, Melissa (September 26, 2006). "Researchers Hope to Give Dolphin Prosthetic Tail: Underwater interview of Diana Zucker by Melissa Block". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Barry, John (November 12, 2021). "Winter's Tale: Read the original series about the famous Clearwater dolphin". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  6. ^ Anderson, Curt (November 11, 2021). "Beloved 'Dolphin Tale' star Winter dies at Florida aquarium". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Sowers, Lloyd (November 11, 2021). "Winter the dolphin dies, leaving legacy of perseverance and inspiration". WTVT. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Aven, Daniel (August 9, 2007). ""Bionic" Dolphin Getting New Tail". The Early Show. CBS News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Holguin, Jamie (August 26, 2007). "Fuji The Dolphin's Rubber Tail". CBS Evening News. CBS News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Yahalom, Tali (November 8, 2007). "Dolphin and Iraq veteran share wonder of prosthetics". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Aggeles, Theodora (December 30, 2010). "Once-paralyzed Ohio man meets Clearwater's Winter the dolphin". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "Winter's Tail DS". Scholastic.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  13. ^ Lodge, Sally (December 17, 2009). "Scholastic's 'Winter's Tail' Makes Waves". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again". Scholastic Kids. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Winter: Prosthetic Tail Helps Baby Dolphin Swim Again". Hanger Clinic. April 13, 2020. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Persall, Steve (July 20, 2010). "Filming of A Dolphin's Tale (in 3D!) to begin Sept. 27 at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and other Pinellas County locations". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Brassfield, Mike (December 19, 2010). "Clearwater Marine Aquarium reaps new features left over from filming 'Dolphin Tale'". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  18. ^ "Winter the dolphin movie wraps filming". Bay News 9. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Hope the Dolphin". Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  20. ^ Mulligan, Michaela (November 8, 2021). "Winter the Dolphin has received more than 1,400 get-well messages". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Lopez, Lisette; King, McKenna (November 10, 2021). "Winter the Dolphin, star of 'Dolphin Tale', dies in Clearwater". WFTS. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  22. ^ Staff (November 10, 2021). "Update: Winter the Dolphin dies at age 16". WTSP. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  23. ^ Evans, Jack; Tracey, McManus (November 11, 2021). "Winter, star of the 'Dolphin Tale,' dies in Clearwater". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  24. ^ Olsen, Jillian (January 13, 2022). "'A return home': Winter the Dolphin's ashes released into Gulf of Mexico". WTSP. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
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