Winter (dolphin) facts for kids
Winter swimming without her tail
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| Species | Tursiops truncatus |
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| Born | c. October 2005 Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 2021 (aged 16) Clearwater, Florida, U.S. |
| Notable role | Herself in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 |
| Years active | 2005–2021 |
| Known for | Prosthetic tail |
| Owner | Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida |
| https://www.SeeWinter.com | |
Winter (born around October 2005 – died November 11, 2021) was a famous bottlenose dolphin. She lived at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, United States. Winter was well-known for having a special prosthetic tail.
Her story was shared in the 2009 book Winter's Tale. She also starred as herself in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale and its 2014 sequel, Dolphin Tale 2.
Winter was found in Florida's coastal waters on December 10, 2005. She got caught in a crab trap, which sadly caused her to lose her tail. After her rescue, Winter was taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. She lived there for almost 16 years.
Because she lost her tail, Winter first swam in an unusual way. Her body moved side to side instead of her tail moving up and down. To help her swim normally, she was given a special tail made of silicone and plastic. This new tail allowed her to swim just like other dolphins. Winter became a very popular attraction at the aquarium. She shared her pool with two other dolphins named Hope and P.J. Hope is the dolphin featured in the movie Dolphin Tale 2.
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Winter's Rescue and Special Tail
Winter was discovered tangled in the ropes of a crab trap. This happened on December 10, 2005, in Mosquito Lagoon off the coast of Florida. When she was rescued, experts thought she was only about two months old.
She was named Winter because she was found in December. This month is usually considered a winter month. The rope had cut off the blood flow to her tail. Because of this, her tail had to be removed.
Designing a Prosthetic Tail
An Irish prosthetist named Kevin Carroll and his team worked hard to design a tail for Winter. It took them about a year and a half. In 2007, they finally created a simple tail from silicone and plastic.
They used a soft, gel-like sleeve under the tail. This sleeve helped stop the tail from rubbing and hurting Winter's skin. It was a very difficult task because parts of Winter's tail, called her flukes and caudal peduncle, were completely gone.
The knowledge gained from helping Winter was also used to help people. For example, Kevin Carroll used the same gel sleeve idea. It helped United States Air Force senior airman Brian Kolfage feel more comfortable with his prosthetic limbs. He had lost both legs and his right hand in an accident in 2004.
Winter's Fame and Inspiration
Winter became the most popular animal at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Many people saw her as a symbol of hope and inspiration. Especially for those with disabilities.
Books and Movies About Winter
In 2009, Winter's story was told in a children's book. It was written by Craig Hatkoff and called Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again. This book was published by Scholastic. Later, Hatkoff's book was made into an interactive storybook for the Nintendo DS game system.
A movie based on Winter's life, called Dolphin Tale, came out on September 23, 2011. Winter played herself in the film! The Clearwater Marine Aquarium made some changes to welcome the film crew. This included building a new 80,000-gallon pool for Winter. The movie was filmed at the aquarium and other places in Pinellas County, Florida.
A second movie, Dolphin Tale 2, was released on September 12, 2014. This sequel introduced Hope, another dolphin who lived with Winter at the aquarium.
Winter's Passing
On November 7, 2021, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium shared some sad news. Early tests showed Winter had signs of a stomach infection. On November 10, 2021, the aquarium announced that Winter's health was critical.
Winter passed away on November 11, 2021, at about 8:00 PM local time. She was 16 years old. This happened while she was being prepared for a surgery.
Images for kids
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Winter swimming without her tail
See also
In Spanish: Winter (delfín) para niños
