Winter Has A Special Purpose
Photos and story by Robert La Follette

Finding Her Way Home
It was the beginning of another beautiful Florida winter's day in
Mosquito Lagoon near Cape Canaveral two years ago, as the sun was just
coming up over the horizon. With the gentle warm breeze as it swept
across the lagoon, a few friends out fishing that morning found
something that was a bit unusual. Off into the distance, there was a fin
coming up out of the water. Being that this area was always popular with
dolphins, the friends didn't think too much about it at first, for they
are regularly seen in the area. Dolphins love to come into the shallow
waters around Mosquito Lagoon as they hunt for fish in these shallow
waters, especially around the mangroves.

However, the dolphin wasn't swimming away as they approached, and seemed
as if it was stuck. Perhaps the dolphin swam unto a sand bar, so it just
needed a little push off they thought. As they got close, it became
apparent that something was terribly wrong, something no one had ever
seen before.

It was a baby dolphin, and she was stuck to a crab trap. It appeared
that she had been trying to get some of the freshly caught crabs out of
the trap, when it somehow snapped onto her tail, trapping her instead.
It was clear that the little dolphin was injured, for the trap was
cutting into that tail that was being held. Knowing that there was
nothing they could do to help the little dolphin, the fishermen called
for professional help, and a team of rescuers from Harbor Branch
Oceanographic and Hubbs Institute of Orlando was dispatched to answer
the call. When the team arrived, they were shocked to see such a sight,
for no one could have imagined the horror that they were looking at. The
mother was nowhere to be found, but right now, all the focus and energy
was placed squarely on that little dolphin to help save its life.

The little dolphin had deep wounds on both sides of her mouth, across
the tongue, under both of the pectoral fins, and on her peduncle from
the crab trap lines. The deep wounds on the upper and lower tail stalk
were so deep that the blood flow was cut off, and the tail tissue was
dying and falling off. She was dehydrated and thin, and had problems
eating. She was not expected to live, but the team at the Clearwater
Marine Aquarium wanted to give this little dolphin a chance to fight the
odds.

Only three months into her life, she was transported and under the care
of the specialists of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and she needed a
name. After much debate, she was now known as "Winter", and she seemed
to take nicely to the name. Winter has not only surprised everyone by
living, but has become an inspiration to the thousands of visitors that
have seen her. Even though now she has no tail, for it had to be removed
due to the damage of the crab trap since it cut off the blood flow to
her tail, Winter is a warm and energetic juvenile dolphin that will
certainly capture the hearts and imagination of anyone who has had the
chance to meet her. She has become the star attraction at the aquarium,
and she certainly loves the attention.

Although Winter can never be released back into the open waters, she has
a dedicated and loving team of trainers, veterinarians and volunteers
that have devoted their life to her survival. Winter has beaten the
odds, and survived. Fast forward two years now, and Winter is a playful
two-year-old dolphin that loves to entertain the huge crowds that have
come from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of this incredible
little dolphin. But something was missing, and the staff at the
Clearwater Marine Aquarium had an idea…

A Call For Help
The staff at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium wanted to give Winter the
ability to swim like a dolphin. Although she can swim and interact, as
dolphins love to do, she simply wasn't able to swim as a normal dolphin
can. Since she had to have her tail removed, her ability to swim
normally was restricted, which causes her to change her swimming
technique. She now swims side to side like a shark instead of up and
down like a dolphin. Veterinarians agree that adaptation could
eventually harm the dolphin's health and well-being. Something had to be
done.

The term "shrimping" is how the staff refers to Winters curved spine,
and they are concerned that if something cannot be done to correct it,
the unnatural way she curves her body will cause permanent injury,
perhaps even shortening her life. Winter was facing her greatest
challenge yet. The call went out for help, and the staff waited
anxiously for anyone who could answer that call. It was a tall order to
fill, for never had anyone ever designed a prosthetic tail for a dolphin
before to this degree. Fuji, a male dolphin in Hawaii was the only other
dolphin to get a prosthetic tail, but his situation was entirely
different, as much of the tail fluke was still on. It was a last ditch
effort to save the life of a little dolphin that has become a part of
the lives of so many, and time was rapidly running out.

A New Beginning
In Orlando, Kevin Carroll of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics heard
about the news of Winter, and it touched his heart. Kevin read as many
news articles as he could about Winter, and shortly after hearing the
news, Jim drove to Tampa to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to see
Winter. Kevin's expertise is in designing and developing prosthetics for
human patients, for Hanger is the world leading research firm for
helping find new ways to help victims of car accidents and war soldiers
that lose an arm or leg in terrible accidents. Kevin a dolphin lover
himself, decided to take on this daunting task, all at no cost to the
aquarium. Little did Kevin know that the goal was a large one, but he
had made a commitment to help Winter.

Hanger took several molds of Winters stump, and began to formulate ideas
on how to fasten a tail to her. Kevin knew that the material had to be
flexible, but strong enough to withstand the incredible amount of power
a dolphin can generate with that tail, so the task started to seem
almost impossible. Dolphins not only use their tail to swim, but also to
communicate, so the solution had to withstand a lot of punishment. After
weeks and weeks of burning the midnight oil, Hanger started to develop a
flexible, silicon-based prosthetic tail that seemed to be just the
answer they were looking for. The materials that Hanger developed was a
science onto itself, and was specially designed and developed just for
Winter. The team from Hanger took the new tail back to the aquarium to
see if it was the answer they were hoping for.

Success
Kevin and the rest of his team from Hanger came to Clearwater with the
hope that their hard work had paid off, but no one was sure it would
even stay on Winter, for this delicate and extremely difficult task had
never been done before. Everyone was hopeful, and the tension was
mounting. Winter had to get comfortable with her new tail, and hopefully
would not reject it, since it would be the first time in a long time she
would gain the ability to swim like a normal dolphin. The staff from
Hanger and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium gathered early one morning,
and Winters trainer got her ready for a "test run". Everyone in the
building held their breath as they waited and watched as Winter got into
position to be fitted for the first time with her new tail.

First, a silicone sleeve is rolled around the end of the stump where
Winters tail used to be. This material provides protection to Winters
skin, and also is critical to help provide the grip necessary to hold on
her prosthetic tail, which is held on by suction. Next, the more rigid
inner component is attached to provide the primary strength of the
device. Then lastly, a second silicone sleeve is rolled over the entire
piece, ensuring the tail remains in position. After all the pieces of
Winters new tail were affixed, SUCCESS! It worked just as Kevin has
dreamt it would, although there will be several modifications made to
the original tail, to both improve the design and technology. However,
the first step had been made, and the staff and team were extremely
thrilled with the results. For all the time and efforts, some of the
most exciting developments are some of the materials and technologies
developed for Winter will be used to help human amputees, a first in
modern science.

Several months and several different versions later, Winter finally has
a new tail, thanks in part to human kindness and determination. Although
Winter does not swim with her new tail all the time, the staff has seen
a huge improvement in her rehabilitation, so much, that the odds now
that Winter will live a full and healthy life has greatly increased.
Winter will see many new tails over the next several years since she is
still growing, but the future is bright for this cute and adorable
little dolphin.

A Special Purpose
Winter has become world-renowned as the news of this special little
dolphin has reached every corner of the world, and thousands of visitors
have come to see her. David Yates, the aquariums executive director, saw
a young girl one day that came to visit the aquarium, and this little
girl, named Katrina, was an amputee herself. David walked over to the
little girl and her mother, and they started talking about Winter, and
how they have something in common. Yates had one of the dolphin trainers
take Katrina for a private interaction with Winter. Katrina's eyes lit
up when she saw Winter and how she was just like her.

That chance meeting with that little girl that now has the determination
to become happy and healthy thanks to Winter to meet her challenge head
on, gave David an idea. After several meetings with aquarium staff, they
discussed how they could help other amputees deal with their disability,
and Winter would be the perfect "spokesdolphin" for the new program. The
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is developing just such a program, where
others, such as veterans and accident victims with similar disabilities
can interact with Winter. The program is designed to show them that they
too can beat the odds and become a healthy and happy person, just as
Winter has done. The aquarium is partnering with several organizations
in the Tampa Bay area, as well as the Tampa Veterans Administration
Amputee Support Group and the Wounded Warrior Project to help the many
others with similar challenges.

Winter has come into her own at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and even
though she had a terrible accident and will never swim free in the warm
waters of her home in Florida, she is providing hope for thousands of
others around the world that life can be beautiful and fulfilling after
all. For if a little dolphin can overcome her disabilities, people can
too, for if you ever have the opportunity to see this special little
dolphin in person, you too will believe.

About The Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Inc. (CMA) is dedicated to public education,
research and rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick or injured
animals. CMA is a Florida non-profit organization, which has tax-exempt
status under IRC 501 (c)(3). CMA's stranding response team is one of the
nation's most successful stranding teams. Although many of the sick or
injured animals we rescue are released after rehabilitation, some become
permanent CMA residents, due to the extent of their injuries. Residents
include dolphins, sea turtles and river otters. To learn more about CMA,
please visit www.seewinter.com.

About Robert La Follette
Since 1989, Robert La Follette has been working as a graphic designer
and photographer. His photos have won numerous awards and have appeared
in Shutterbug Magazine, Informant Guest and Creation Magazine. La
Follette is also a contributing writer and photographer for Florida
Wildlife Magazine. Robert was awarded "Best of Show" at the Boyd Hill
Nature Photography Contest in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has also been
featured on "i On Tampa Bay" for PAX Television in Tampa.

Robert's photography also appears around Tampa Bay, most notably with
the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, where his images showcases
the beauty and attractions that make Tampa Bay a world-renowned vacation
destination. Robert also teaches creative photography online and
personal workshops around Tampa Bay. Robert lives in Tampa, Florida with
his wife, Dawn, whom he has been happily married for over 18 years.
Wildlife enthusiasts, together they perform volunteer work with Tampa's
Lowry Park Zoo and Clearwater Marine Aquarium. To view more of Robert's
award-winning photography, please visit www.robertlafollette.com.