Clearwater Marine Aquarium

By Author: Julianbryan
Total Articles: 21
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Marine Aquarium, located about three-quarters of a mile east from dynamic Clearwater Beach (FL), is a point of interest for many visitors on a Florida beach vacation. Established in 1978 as a marine biology learning center, it evolved into a well-known marine rescue and bio-rehabilitation facility for whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. Since the 1990's, it has expanded its community outreach to include more public and education areas to go along with its care and rescue efforts.
The CMA offers a variety of presentations enjoyable to both children and adults. Dolphin feeding, stingray feeding, and shark feeding are of high interest. The animal interaction, theater presentations and behind-the-scenes tour are also well-attended. For those wishing for a bit more physical involvement, a two-hour guided kayak tour is available.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, however, is probably best known for its desperate 2005 rescue and subsequent rehabilitation of "Winter" a two-month old baby dolphin, hopelessly entangled in crap trap 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 trap, is one of the most inspirational animal stories of all time. Found barely breathing and under 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 so restricted by the rope that it was damaged beyond repair. Little Winter, herself, was not much better off. She was barely hanging on. Heroic efforts by skilled veterinarian, Dr. Janine Cianciolo saved her, but Winter lost her tail...as well as 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...but due to the loss of her tail she learned to swim like a shark instead of a dolphin...which initiated new damage 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 first of its kind, ever.
With Abby Stone's continuing care and training, Winter learned to again swim like a dolphin. In addition to her performances at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, her resilience and tenacity have become an inspiration, and she has been made available privately to children with life-threatening diseases, individuals with severe handicaps, and wounded fighting men back from the wars in the Middle East.
Location and Times for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium: The Aquarium is located on the north side of FL State Road 60 (Memorial Highway) at 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 which is just off Island Way Drive as you head west toward Clearwater Beach. It is open 9am - 5pm Monday through Thursday, 9am - 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am - 5pm on Sunday.
A visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium will add lasting memories to your Florida beach vacation.

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