Winter (dolphin)

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Winter
Winter tailless bottlenose dolphin.jpg
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.
Notable roleHerself in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2
Years active2005–2021
Known forProsthetic tail
OwnerClearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida
https://www.SeeWinter.com

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. She was caught in a crab trap, which resulted in the loss of her tail. Winter was then taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she was housed for nearly 16 years. The loss of her tail caused Winter to swim unnaturally, with her tail moving side to side instead of up and down. As a result, Winter was fitted with a silicone and plastic tail that enabled her to swim normally.

Winter became a highly popular attraction at the aquarium. She lived in her pool with two other dolphins, Hope and P.J., the former of which is the subject of Dolphin Tale 2.

Discovery and treatment[]

Winter in 2011
Winter's prosthetic tail

Winter was found in the ropes of a crab trap on December 10, 2005[1] in Mosquito Lagoon of the coastal waters of Florida.[2] At the time of her rescue, she was estimated to be about two months old.[3]

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.[4] The rope in which Winter was entangled cut off the supply of blood to her tail, necessitating its amputation.[5]

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.[6] A gel-like sleeve was used under the tail in order to prevent it from irritating Winter's skin. However, Winter's flukes and caudal peduncle had been severed, making the task much more difficult.[7]

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.[2][8]

Public recognition[]

Winter became the most popular attraction at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was viewed as an inspiration to people with disabilities.[2] Brock Mealer (brother of Michigan Wolverines player Eliot Mealer), who was paralyzed in a car accident, met Winter in December 2010.[9] The event attracted significant press coverage.[9] Books and Nintendo games have been published about Winter.[10][11]

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.[12] The book was published by Turtle Pond Publications and Scholastic.[12] Hatkoff's short book was adapted into an interactive storybook on the Nintendo DS, under the same title.[13]

A film based on Winter's story, titled Dolphin Tale, was released September 23, 2011.[14] Winter portrayed herself in the film.[15] Several modifications were made to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to accommodate her, including a new 80,000-gallon pool.[15] The film was shot at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and other locations in Pinellas County, Florida.[16]

A sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, was released in theaters on September 12, 2014, and introduces Hope, the dolphin who lived with Winter.[17]

Death[]

On November 7, 2021, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced early tests indicated Winter was showing signs of a gastrointestinal infection.[18] The aquarium announced on November 10, 2021, that Winter's condition was critical.[19][20] During preparation for an exploratory surgery on November 11, 2021, at approximately 8:00pm local time, Winter died at the age of 16.[21] In a preliminary necropsy, it was found Winter had died of a twisted intestine.[22]

References[]

  1. ^ Block, Melissa (September 26, 2006). "Researchers Hope to Give Dolphin Prosthetic Tail: Underwater interview of Diana Zucker by Melissa Block". National Public Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. ^ 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. Retrieved November 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Anderson, Curt (November 11, 2021). "Beloved 'Dolphin Tale' star Winter dies at Florida aquarium". ABC News. Retrieved November 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Sowers, Lloyd (November 11, 2021). "Winter the dolphin dies, leaving legacy of perseverance and inspiration". WTVT. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Lelis, Ludmilla (November 27, 2010). "Winter the dolphin's rescue off Volusia has Hollywood ending". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved November 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Yahalom, Tali (November 8, 2007). "Dolphin and Iraq veteran share wonder of prosthetics". ABC News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Winter's Tail DS". Scholastic.com. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  11. ^ Lodge, Sally (December 17, 2009). "Scholastic's 'Winter's Tail' Makes Waves". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved November 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b "Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again". Scholastic Kids. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  13. ^ "Winter: Prosthetic Tail Helps Baby Dolphin Swim Again". Hanger Clinic. April 13, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Winter the dolphin movie wraps filming". Bay News 9. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "Hope the Dolphin". Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Mulligan, Michaela (November 8, 2021). "Winter the Dolphin has received more than 1,400 get-well messages". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Lopez, Lisette; King, McKenna (November 10, 2021). "Winter the Dolphin, star of 'Dolphin Tale', dies in Clearwater". WFTS. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Staff (November 10, 2021). "Update: Winter the Dolphin dies at age 16". WTSP. Retrieved November 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Evans, Jack; Tracey, McManus (November 11, 2021). "Winter, star of the 'Dolphin Tale,' dies in Clearwater". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved November 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Berdychowski, Bernadette (November 13, 2021). "Winter the dolphin died of twisted intestines, necropsy report confirms". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved November 14, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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