The book was published by Turtle Pond Publications and Scholastic.
![clearwater marine aquarium winter clearwater marine aquarium winter](https://www.cmaquarium.org/app/uploads/2018/10/Winter-Light-modified-mobile-1060x776.jpg)
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. Books and Nintendo games have been published about Winter. The event attracted significant press coverage. Brock Mealer (brother of Michigan Wolverines player Eliot Mealer), who was paralyzed in a car accident, met Winter in December 2010. Winter became the most popular attraction at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and was viewed as an inspiration to people with disabilities. 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. However, Winter's flukes and caudal peduncle had been severed, making the task much more difficult. A gel-like sleeve was used under the tail in order to prevent it from irritating Winter's skin. 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. The rope in which Winter was entangled cut off the supply of blood to her tail, necessitating its amputation. 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. At the time of her rescue, she was estimated to be about two months old.
![clearwater marine aquarium winter clearwater marine aquarium winter](https://patch.com/img/cdn/users/127227/2012/12/raw/772cf698d51d11d7b82f7cb37061deca.jpg)
Winter was found in the ropes of a crab trap on Decem in Mosquito Lagoon of the coastal waters of Florida. She lived in her pool with two other dolphins, Hope and P.J., the former of which is the subject of Dolphin Tale 2. Winter became a highly popular attraction at the aquarium. As a result, Winter was fitted with a silicone and plastic tail that enabled her to swim normally. The loss of her tail caused Winter to swim unnaturally, with her tail moving side to side instead of up and down. Winter was then taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she was housed for nearly 16 years. She was caught in a crab trap, which resulted in the loss of her tail. Winter was found in the coastal waters of Florida on December 10, 2005. Winter was the subject of the 2009 book Winter's Tale, the 2011 film Dolphin Tale, and its 2014 sequel. 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. Watch this short documentary, “A Dolphin Truth” to learn more about Winter’s plight.Herself in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2Ĭlearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida Let her lead the way for others to follow in her flippers. Winter is a true ambassador for captive dolphins who need shelter. Why not start with Winter?” says O’Barry. There is no such place anywhere in the world. “What is needed is a permanent shelter where dolphins who cannot be released can go to retire in peace and dignity.
![clearwater marine aquarium winter clearwater marine aquarium winter](https://www.cmaquarium.org/app/uploads/2016/12/31-Winter-Hope-Holding-Fins-1024x667.jpg)
There are sanctuaries for elephants, lions, chimpanzees, tigers and other performing animals but no real sanctuary for captive dolphins to retire. Instead, Clearwater plans to continue incarcerating dolphins in concrete boxes.” He goes on to say, “If Clearwater was serious about functioning as a retirement home for captive dolphins, they would build a real dolphin sanctuary along the Gulf Coast, where dolphins would be able to enjoy fresh air, sunlight and natural rhythms of the sea. It’s all about selling tickets.” Ric O’Barry But it’s nothing more than a dolphin show. They’ve simply changed the language, calling it an educational experience. “They are doing shows, bastardizing the definition of education. Due to her tail requiring amputation, she was deemed non-releasable and has been put on display at the aquarium. In December of 2005, Winter, a female bottlenose dolphin, was found entangled in a crab trap, with the blood supply to her tail cut off.
![clearwater marine aquarium winter clearwater marine aquarium winter](https://www.cmaquarium.org/app/uploads/2018/12/WOTB-1000-1000.jpg)
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where Winter the dolphin is incarcerated, is proposing to build a new aquarium in downtown Clearwater, at the expense of taxpayers.