More info: Clearwater Marine Aquarium carries out rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life as well as environmental education; research; and conservation. The animals which arrive at clearwater are suffering from an illness or severe injury. Many of the animals are found by local residents, fishermen, park rangers or even visitors to the area.
One of the most famous residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium was Winter, a female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in 2005, after being found caught in a crab trap. She lost her tail due to her injuries. Winter developed a way to swim without a tail in an unnatural side to side motion, but because this was damaging her spinal cord, a prosthetic tail was made.
Winter starred in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale and the 2014 sequel Dolphin Tale 2, which was inspired by her story and the sequel inspired on Hope's story. She resided in the Ruth & J.O Stone Dolphin Complex with other bottlenose dolphins Hope, PJ, Nicholas and Hemingway. On November 11, 2021, Winter died at the age of 16.