Our Celebrity

We have a celebrity living here in Clearwater.

At the "Marine Aquarium"

"Winter" the bottle nose dolphin who lost her tail in an accident at the tender age of three months.

I did visit with her about two years ago and was thrilled to watch this little lady swim without problem. Such an amazing job her trainers and her surrogate mom Panama, have done to help her get along without her tail.

Well, now that her movie has been made, right here at the aquarium and will be coming to a theater soon  in September, I thought of seeing her one more time.  

It's not every day I get to see a "Movie Star"

her story

Winter found herself wrapped tightly in a crab trap line, unable to escape. As a result of her entanglement, she lost her entire tail along with 3 vertebrae in her spine.  Winter found a permanent home at the Aquarium and with the collaborative efforts of her trainers, veterinarians, and a leading prosthetic team, received a one-of-a-kind prosthetic tail unlike anything the world has ever seen. At the time of my visit Winter was a  bit agitated and I was not able to get her photo wearing her new Tail. She was moved the night before into her new home in the aquarium, a brand new pool built just for her and her surrogate mom.

I was able to capture the photo below from the downstairs windows of the large pool.

I read this rather nice story while in the gift shop of the aquarium and thought I'd share it with you.

Winter enjoyed a special encounter with Army veteran Brian Brennan, who was seriously injured in Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom, when an IED exploded under his humvee. He miraculously survived and returned home a double amputee. Winter and Brian have a lot in common as they both survived life-threatening injuries, in spite of the odds. And just like Winter, Brian’s compelling life story has become an inspiration to others. Today, they helped each other. “I was very inspired by meeting Winter,” Brennan said. “She is missing a fin and I lost both legs—we are a lot alike.”

Winter  has a prosthetic tail but both of my visits to the aquarium, she did not have it on, so I couldn't get a photo. 

Keep your eye out for "A Dolphin Tale" 

staring,  Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Harry Connick Jr. 

 Should be out in September.


 I'm linking to "Centsational Girl" @
Favorite thing in My Town

.

.

.

.

.