Winter (dolphin)
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 swimming without her tail | |
| Species | Tursiops truncatus |
|---|---|
| Born | c. October 2005 Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | November 11, 2021 (aged 16) Clearwater, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ashes released in Gulf of Mexico |
| Notable role | Herself in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 |
| Years active | 2005–2021 |
| Known for | Prosthetic tail |
| Owner | Clearwater Marine Aquarium |
| www | |
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.