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Aquarium mourns Winter’s loss; memorial planned for Nov. 20

Bill DeYoung

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Photo: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is closed today, as the staff and volunteers mourn the loss of Winter, the dolphin whose rescue and rehabilitation was the crowning achievement for the facility, and was the focal point of its marketing outreach.

The 16-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin died Thursday night, after being diagnosed with a “gastrointestinal abnormality” on Nov. 1. Her condition deteriorated, even as experts from across the country weighed in.

At a press conference Friday morning, Dr. James “Buddy” Powell, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s President, said it was “like losing a loved one,” and that grief counselors were on the premises.

A public memorial is tentatively planned for Nov. 20.

Powell, a longtime marine mammal biologist, stressed that the aquarium was a scientific center first and foremost. Winter, who had a prosthetic tail and therefore could never be released into the wild, was a source of study, as well as inspiration.

He called the dolphin a “medical marvel.” That she had survived at all, after being discovered with the rope from a crab trap wrapped so tightly around her tail that it literally fell off, was a scientific wonder.

Winter’s story was fictionalized in the hit 2011 movie A Dolphin Tale, and its sequel in 2014.

Harry Connick Jr., who appeared in both Dolphin Tale films, posted on his Instagram account Thursday night:

my heart is heavy tonight… i’ll miss you, sweet winter – sending love to everyone at @cmaquarium – y’all are incredible… thank you for the work you do… love you ❤️ #dolphintale

From another of the movies’ stars:


A necropsy is being performed today to determine the exact cause of Winter’s death. “We want to make sure any time something like this occurs that we are able to gather as much information as we possibly can, in order to help us save future animals,” Powell said.

It was, he explained, a gastrointestinal issue not unusual in marine mammal. “In fact, Winter had had it several times in the past,” he explained. “And we had treated it successfully in the past. This time, she didn’t respond to very aggressive treatments.”

The aquarium, Powell said, “is going to continue to be a very thriving place, not only for people who love animals but also for people who want to contribute and see what it takes to actually rescue and rehab these individuals.”

With every loss, he said, the veterinary staff will ask “what can we do to help make her loss make a difference in the future? We are absolutely committed to her legacy.”

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