subject: Clearwater Marine Aquarium - Don't Miss it [print this page] Clearwater Marine Aquarium, located about 3-quarters of a mile east from dynamic Clearwater Beach (FL), is a purpose of interest for several guests on a Florida beach vacation. Established in 1978 as a marine biology learning center, it evolved into a widely known marine rescue and bio-rehabilitation facility for whales, dolphins, and ocean turtles. Since the 1990's, it's expanded its community outreach to incorporate more public and education areas to go together with its care and rescue efforts..
The CMA offers a variety of shows enjoyable to each kids and adults. Dolphin feeding, stingray feeding, and shark feeding are of high interest. The animal interaction, theater presentations and behind-the-scenes tour are well-attended. For those wishing for a touch additional physical involvement, a two-hour guided kayak tour is available.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, however, is in all probability best known for its desperate 2005 rescue and subsequent rehabilitation of "Winter" a two-month recent baby dolphin, hopelessly entangled in crap entice lines, who has now become the CMA's star attraction
Winter the dolphin
The extraordinary rescue and successful rehabilitation of Winter, the baby dolphin abandoned by her family when she became snarled in the lines of a crab entice, is one among the foremost inspirational animal stories of all time. Found barely respiration and beneath extreme distress in Mosquito Lagoon off the Atlantic Ocean's Canaveral National Seashore by courageous and acutely observant fisherman, Jim Savage, Winter was transported across the entire state of Florida.
Circulation to her tail had been thus restricted by the rope that it was damaged beyond repair. Very little Winter, herself, was not a lot of better off. She was barely hanging on. Heroic efforts by skilled veterinarian, Dr. Janine Cianciolo saved her, but Winter lost her tail...and three vertebrae.
Her rehabilitation was taken on by Clearwater Marine Aquarium head trainer, Abby Stone. With Ms. Stone's vigilant care, little Winter began to thrive...however due to the loss of her tail she learned to swim like a shark instead of a dolphin...that initiated new harm to her spinal column.
Once more, fate intervened. Kevin Carroll, vice president of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics and his friend, Dan Strzempka, created a prosthetic tail for Winter. The primary of its kind, ever.
With Abby Stone's continuing care and training, Winter learned to again swim sort of a dolphin. Additionally to her performances at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, her resilience and tenacity have become a concept, and she or he has been made offered privately to youngsters with life-threatening diseases, people with severe handicaps, and wounded fighting men back from the wars within the Middle East.
Location and Times for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Aquarium is located on the north side of FL State Road sixty (Memorial Highway) at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 that is simply off Island Approach Drive as you head west toward Clearwater Beach. It's open 9am - 5pm Monday through Thursday, 9am - 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am - 5pm on Sunday.
