- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
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Winter, a tailless bottlenose dolphin, swims without her prosthetic tail.
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a non-profit organization in Clearwater, Florida dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals, public education, animal-assisted therapy and research.
CMA opened in 1972 at its current location on Clearwater Beach, a former water treatment plant (the large tanks being well-suited for CMA's rehabilitation operations).
Numerous forms of marine life reside at CMA, some temporarily until they can be released, while others have serious injuries which do not permit their return to the wild, and thus become permanent residents.
CMA's best-known permanent resident, and the focus of its marketing campaigns, is Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. Her injuries caused the loss of her tail; CMA attempted (successfully) to fit Winter with a prosthetic tail which brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter later starred in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale, shot partially on location at CMA.
External links
Categories:- Aquaria in Florida
- Clearwater, Florida
- Visitor attractions in Pinellas County, Florida
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