Winter's Tail The true, impossible story. By:Jessica Langlois

Finding Winter In December 2005 a Florida Fisherman found a three month old female bottlenose dolphin. The bottlenose dolphin was found in the Mosquito Lagoon. She was tangled in the ropes of a crab trap. The little dolphin had deep cuts on her mouth and tongue. The net had cut off the blood supply for her 2 flukes(tail fins).

Helping Winter Get To Safety A team of local Scientists rescued her from the net. They couldn't save the flukes or the peduncle. The peduncle is the joint that connects the tail to the rest of the body. The flukes and the peduncle are what enable the dolphin to propel itself with the powerful up-and-down strokes. They can go as fast as 25 miles an hour.

Helping Winter Get To Safety continued Without a tail the baby dolphin would be limited in her ability to get around and would be vulnerable to sharks. Could there be anything to help her? There in lies a tail.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium The scientists took Winter to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Its a small facility on the west coast of Florida. The journey from Mosquito Lagoon to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium was 165 miles long. Winter was out of the water for more then 3 hours. It wasn't an easy journey. With the help of others and Winter's can- do attitude she loves her new home. Sea otter at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Winter's Friend Panama The trainers decided to introduce Winter to Panama a female dolphin who had been rescued as well. At first Winter just watched Panama swim laps around the pool. Then every time Panama passed Winter, Winter swam out to greet her. At first Panama just ignored her. Then Panama finally let Winter play with her. Panama lets Winter trail behind her like mother dolphins let there babies. Winter

NBC The Today Show When Winter was about a year old, NBC The Today Show broadcast a story about her on television. Now the whole world knew. People started to come to see her at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winter even received some fan mail. People and kids with or who had disabilities sent letters to her or came to visit her. Everyone could relate to Winter.

Winter's Problem Winter discovered a new way to swim. Moving her tail side to side. Scientists soon found out that the way she was swimming would hurt her. All dolphins swim with there tails moving up- and-down. Serious damage could be done.

Winter’s Tail Hanger Orthopedic Group of Bethesda MD Eventually Hanger Orthopedic Group of Bethesda MD came over with a plan for Winter. They had made a prosthetic tail. The fake tail would fit over Winter’s stump. Made from a soothing silicone gel, it would not irritate with any dolphin’s sensitive skin. Winter’s handler’s spent many hours moving her “tail” up and down to show Winter what it felt like to swim like a normal dolphin. Winter learned how to swim very quickly. Now she loves her tail.

Winter is so well known. All that’s because of the new movie There are books about her. Even stuffed animals! Even jewelry! So that’s the true story of Winter. Hope you liked it!