Winter fans mourn the loss of dolphin who ‘inspired hope, was loved by millions.’
A dolphin without a tail that captured many Americans’ hearts died Thursday night.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will be closed Friday so the staff can grieve the loss of their friend, Winter.
Winter the dolphin was the beloved star of the “Dolphin Tale” movies, inspired by her true story of losing her tale and finding so many friends.
“We’re here because of the most amazing animal and friend that I’ve ever known and I hope you love her as much as I do.”
Everyone at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida and all its visitors who grew to love Winter are heartbroken now. The aquarium says the 16-year-old bottlenose dolphin with an unprecedented prosthetic tail died Thursday evening despite urgent efforts to treat a gastrointestinal problem. Like all her years at the aquarium, Winter was cared for to the very end, dying in the arms of animal care experts. Carmen Roberts. Fox News.
Winter was two months old when her tail became entangled in a crab trap near Cape Canaveral, forcing its amputation.
“Dolphin Tale” was released in 2011 and chronicled Winter’s recovery and the unprecedented effort to fit her with a prosthetic tail.
A sequel followed three years later.